Let's talk about Imposter Syndrome
A major goal of CypHERz is to reduce imposter syndrome, an alarmingly common issue, especially among young women. In fact, it is one of the main reasons the initiative was founded. So, why is the syndrome such a big deal? What is it anyway? In this blog post, we’ll delve into imposter syndrome and cover techniques on how to tackle the syndrome and thrive.
To put it simply, imposter syndrome (IS) is a prolonged and crippling feeling of incompetence, paired with a fear of being exposed as a fraud despite having achievements and skills that indicate the opposite. You may find yourself undeserving of your successes or linking them to external factors such as luck. Furthermore, imposter syndrome can be split into 5 types:
1. The perfectionist -
As a perfectionist, you strive for perfect outcomes, often setting unrealistically high expectations for yourself. If these expectations aren’t met, you feel like a failure and a fraud. Perfectionists tend to focus on their mistakes and failures, leading to constant dissatisfaction with their accomplishments.
2. The superhuman -
In this imposter type, you base your competence on managing and excelling in all areas of life. Encountering mishaps in any role, such as being a student or a parent, may result in increased feelings of self-doubt and anxiety.
3. The natural genius -
A natural genius measures competence by how easily and quickly something is accomplished. Natural geniuses usually have a history of excelling in a short amount of time with minimal effort. If you struggle with something and can’t get it right on the first try, it might make you feel shameful. Therefore, natural geniuses often refrain from trying new things.
4. The soloist -
Soloists feel the need to accomplish everything independently. You most likely struggle to ask for help, especially become it evokes feelings of inadequacy and the fear of being seen as weak.
5. The expert - An expert feels obligated to know everything about a certain topic. Any gaps in your knowledge may invoke feelings of fradulence. Experts tend to overprepare and excessively pursue knowledge to reduce their chances of being “exposed as an imposter”. When the term “Imposter Syndrome” was coined by psychologists Suzanne Imes and Pauline Rose Clance in 1978, it was described as a phenomenon in high-achieving women. Since then, it has been shown that imposter syndrome affects both men and women, from Harry Potter’s star Daniel Radcliffe to former tennis player Serena Williams, who, despite being considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time, admitted that she struggles with the syndrome.
Based on research, it is also estimated that one-third of young people experience imposter syndrome and that 70% of people are likely to experience it at some point, with women and people of color being at a greater risk. This is often due to biases and stereotypes caused by underrepresentation, which lead to feelings of being unworthy or not belonging.
TrustRadius' 2021 'Women in Tech Report' revealed that women at work were 22% more likely to experience imposter syndrome compared to their male counterparts. Imposter syndrome can have a detrimental impact on your well-being. Symptoms such as endless self-doubt, a fear of being exposed as a fraud, and constantly reaching for unrealistic goals can be mentally and physically exhausting, causing burnout, anxiety, and depression. These reduce your overall life quality by damaging your personal growth and your interactions with others.
On a broader scale, imposter syndrome can also contribute to the underrepresentation of certain groups in certain fields, as people would be reluctant to take on roles for which they doubt their qualifications. This results in a lack of diversity in the fields, acting as fuel for increasing imposter syndrome and making it even harder for underrepresented groups to break in and succeed.
Not only does imposter syndrome affect individuals but also society and possibly even global development. Along with biases and stereotypes, other contributing factors can for example include receiving little to no positive feedback and growing up in a perfectionism-fostering environment that gave lots of importance to achievements. Either way, there are a few possible ways to re-frame your thinking process and habits to get rid of imposter syndrome:
1. Build a growth mindset
Rather than trying to achieve perfection, focus on getting better than you were before. Focus on growing. Remember that it’s completely fine to mess up because failure is needed to grow. The more you throw yourself out there and try new things, the more you step out of your comfort zone and develop your skills.
2. Celebrate and acknowledge your wins!
Got a good grade on an exam? Celebrate. Learned something new? Celebrate. You have to be your biggest supporter and acknowledge that you worked hard for your achievements. You may also find it helpful to create a list of your accomplishments that you gradually add more to. When you’re feeling down, look at the list to remind yourself of how far you’ve come. Also, if you had someone else help you achieve something, thank them and celebrate with them!
3. Challenge negative self-talk
The way you think and talk about yourself has a huge impact on your confidence and ends up the driving force of your actions. Instead of saying “I am not good enough”, tell yourself that you are capable of learning and improving. Using positive affirmations (Pinterest is a great place to find these!) on a daily basis or when needed can also help in building self-esteem and overcoming imposter syndrome.
4. Seek support
Even though imposter syndrome is quite common, there aren’t enough people talking about it. Try connecting with others through online communities and/or just reaching out to a friend, a family member, a therapist, or anyone you can trust to share your experiences and gain some support and advice about overcoming imposter syndrome. Remember that you aren’t alone in this, and seeking help is a brave step that will guide you toward becoming the best version of yourself!
By Kanishka
Sources:
https://www.entrepreneur.com/leadership/imposter-syndrome-predominantly-affects-women-heres/453161 https://www.trustradius.com/buyer-blog/women-in-tech-report https://hospitalityinsights.ehl.edu/imposter-syndrome-women-minorities https://www.betterup.com/blog/what-is-imposter-syndrome-and-how-to-avoid-it https://www.impostersyndrome.ie/blog/what-is-imposter-syndrome https://hbr.org/2022/01/youre-not-an-imposter-youre-actually-pretty-amazing https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/women-imposter-syndrome-workplace-confidence-b2313770.html https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/ditch-inner-imposter-book-extract https://health.clevelandclinic.org/a-psychologist-explains-how-to-deal-with-imposter-syndrome/ https://www.refinery29.com/en-au/types-of-imposter-syndrome#slide-3 https://www.addiction.org.uk/daniel-radcliffe-used-alcohol-deal-fear-failure/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/do-you-have-imposter-syndrome-anne-grady/
