How self-doubt can develop into ‘Imposter Syndrome’

The quote below by Bertrand Russell (an early twentieth century Philosopher) is a comforting one to read if you are in the grip of self-doubt about your abilities and stalling action, as this may actually be a result of your superior intellect!

‘The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt.’

Eventually, however, we do need to make a decision and doubt may make us procrastinate or be too timid in our decision-making.  We need to remember that self-doubt has its plus points in keeping us sharp, modest and thoroughly prepared.  Yet, it can also turn on us and make us feel like we do not deserve the success that we have achieved and, that one day soon, we will be found out.  This doubt can develop into Imposter Syndrome, a term that emanates from the work of clinical psychologists in 1978 – Dr Pauline Clance * and Dr Suzanne Imes (who referred to this Syndrome as Imposter Phenomenon).  

Imposter Syndrome can be described as feeling like a fraud and that we do not deserve the external success that comes our way.  Someone in the grip of Imposter Syndrome might attribute their achievements to luck; or being given a break and be fearful that one day they will be ‘found out’ or make a huge mistake.  It’s not easy to make decisions or feel good about yourself if this is the load that you carry. 

We live in a world where judgements are made about us all the time and these can be shared with large groups of people through our digital highways.  There are many images presented in the media of the perfect woman or man, be it looks or high achieving careers, that we often internalise.  This means we compare ourselves to the external ‘groomed and carefully polished’ version of success. We can then become sensitised to our own internal dialogue which can promote feelings of insecurity in our own abilities. 

The negative self-talk often associated with the Imposter Syndrome can hold us back and we can lose confidence in our own abilities and so forego promotions or work on high-profile projects for fear of not being ‘good enough’, even though we have ability to do a bigger, more challenging role. Sheryl Sandberg’s book ‘Lean In’ is very good at expressing the discomfort that can be present in the workplace, particularly for women, if you feel overlooked and the need to stand your ground to continue to ‘lean in’ so that your voice is heard.

Uncertainty is a feature of living today and most people have very little control over the outcome of, say, the Brexit negotiations or the policies of the US, both of which will have ramifications throughout the world.  Uncertainty can be stressful and to create confidence and resilience in ourselves to deal with the fast pace of change, we need to be alert to potential impact of Imposter Syndrome through staying connected to our own internal thoughts and feelings.

So, how do you manage Imposter Syndrome if you suspect you are affected by it?

It is useful to be aware of the patterns that you have grown up with and the messages from childhood that may linger and cause you to doubt your abilities.  For example, women are often given subtle messages from childhood about the traditional expectations of women. We are shaped indelibly by our upbringing and this sometimes lurks within us just outside of our conscious awareness but creates patterns to our behaviour.  The more we tune into those patterns, perhaps with the help of a coach who has the knowledge and skills to work at a deep level, the greater the likelihood of interrupting the negative self-talk that can put the brakes on the work we do or achieving our potential. 

Reflecting on achievements and allowing these to be properly absorbed is important activity for anyone who doubts their ability.  Good leaders and managers already know the power of good quality, regular feedback and using development activities to stretch and reinforce strengths.  Mentoring also has its place in learning how others manage their self-doubt to avoid Imposter Syndrome taking root. 

*There is an Imposter Phenomenon test and simple scoring system for personal use on Dr Pauline Clance’s web-site http://paulineroseclance.com/impostor_phenomenon.html to see how you rate yourself.

Margaret Walsh is a registered member of the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy, a Member of the Association of Coaching and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development.  She works with individuals and groups using a mixture of coaching and psychotherapy to help deepen self-awareness from which to bring about change.  She works face-to-face as well as by Skype and telephone and can be contacted on margaretwalshcoach@gmail.com