If People Only Knew...
Posted on September 12, 2010 by Tom Patterson, One of Thousands of Leadership Coaches on Noomii.
Have you ever heard of The Impostor Syndrome? Maybe you've been been stricken by it!
According to Jory des Jardins in an article in Career magazine, the Imposter Syndrome is “a state of insecurity…when we feel we are frauds being credited with recognition that we do not deserve. We feel like we somehow fooled the public into thinking we are more qualified than we actually are.” The author believes it is more common among women than among men, though I suspect that may be just a question of who’s more likely to admit it.
The Imposter Syndrome is not like an officially recognized neurosis or psychosis, or anything, but many very capable and talented people are afflicted by it, nonetheless.
Symptoms of this syndrome include thoughts or statements like:
- Anyone could do what I do…
- I got this job by a stroke of luck…
- I got this promotion by a stroke of luck…
- It had nothing to do with my parenting…my kids were easy to raise…
- It’s only a matter of time before I’m found out…
- The thing that will make me most credible is another degree…
- If people only knew how scared I really am right now…
- Those other people actually deserve the promotions they got…
At one level, this may sound modest, humble, and self-effacing, and perhaps it is. It’s just as likely, however, that it’s one of two other inter-related possibilities:
1. A tendency to “hedge one’s bets.” In other words, if I continue to reiterate how I had nothing to do with my apparent success, then I won’t be caught off guard when somebody calls it into question, and/or;
2. A genuine belief that one has been fraudulently credited with a certain level of competency, adequacy, or aptitude.
Interestingly, according to des Jardin, the higher up in an organization a person is promoted, the more acute the feelings of inadequacy. What do you think about this? Have you ever had an acute case—or a chronic case—of the Imposter Syndrome? I know I have!
What’s the big deal? Worst case scenario is that we come across as humble, right? Not exactly. The Imposter Syndrome can lead us to not ask questions when we really need to. After all, won’t that reveal how incompetent we are? Because there is a real fear of being “found out,” leaders at all levels of an organization can find themselves stuck in a controlling, tyrannical posture with their direct reports and their peers. Parents, partners, and spouses can find themselves inflexible in dealing with important relational issues because they struggle with a clear sense of personal clarity, boundaries, and strengths.
What if you could turn the Imposter Syndrome on its ear? What would it be like to step into the possibility that you are where you are for good reason? What if the assumptions and beliefs that play into the syndrome are not set in stone? What if the people around you are hoping like mad that you’ll claim your unique contributions, and won’t even think you’re arrogant for doing so?
For most of us, it’s easier to be an advocate for someone else’s attributes and brilliance. What might a similar kind of advocate say about your unique offerings?
