Exploring Imposter Syndrome: Why We Feel Like Frauds (Even When We’re Not)
- Michael Ellis-Bailey
- Feb 25
- 4 min read
Imposter Syndrome is that nagging feeling that you don’t really deserve your success, that you’re secretly not as competent as others think you are, and that, sooner or later, someone will expose you as a fraud. Even incredibly successful people—CEOs, scientists, artists, and students—struggle with it. So, let’s break it down in a way that makes it intuitive and relatable.
What Is Imposter Syndrome?
Imagine you’re playing a video game, and for some reason, everyone around you is levelling up effortlessly while you feel like you're just button-mashing, hoping no one notices you have no idea what you're doing. That’s what Imposter Syndrome feels like—except in real life.
Psychologists first coined the term in the 1970s, describing it as a persistent belief that your achievements are not due to your abilities but rather luck, timing, or deception. It happens even when there is plenty of evidence that you are, in fact, competent.
Why Do People Experience It?
Think of your mind like a security system that’s overly sensitive. It was designed to detect threats—like actual frauds, dangers, or mistakes—but sometimes, it misfires and makes you doubt yourself unnecessarily. Here are the main reasons why:
1. The Comparison Trap
Imagine you're in a room full of musicians. You see one playing the violin flawlessly, another singing like an angel, and someone else improvising a jazz solo. You feel out of place because you're comparing your behind-the-scenes struggles to everyone else’s highlight reel.
We often see others’ successes but not their struggles, leading us to assume that they are naturally talented while we are just faking it.
2. Perfectionism & Unrealistic Standards
Have you ever played a game and felt like you needed to 100% complete every level, find every secret, and win every trophy? Some people apply this mindset to real life. They think that if they make one mistake, they are a fraud. But real life isn’t designed to be 100% perfect.
3. The Dunning-Kruger Effect (The Knowledge Paradox)
There’s a psychological paradox at play: the more you learn, the more you realise how much you don’t know. This can make highly intelligent and skilled people feel incompetent because they see gaps in their knowledge that others might not even be aware of.
On the other hand, people who are truly unskilled often don’t know enough to recognise their own incompetence (which is why they don’t experience Imposter Syndrome as much).
4. Childhood & Cultural Expectations
If you grew up in an environment where success was heavily rewarded and failure was criticized, you might have internalised the idea that you always need to be exceptional to be worthy. Similarly, if you belong to a group that has historically been underrepresented in a field (such as women in STEM or first-generation college students), you might feel extra pressure to prove yourself.
Types of Imposter Syndrome
Not everyone experiences Imposter Syndrome in the same way. Psychologist Dr. Valerie Young identified five types:
1. The Perfectionist
Believes success only counts if it is flawless.
Feels like a failure for making minor mistakes.
Example: A student gets a 95% on a test and thinks, "I should’ve gotten 100%."
2. The Expert
Feels like a fraud unless they know everything about a topic.
Feels inadequate if they don’t have all the answers.
Example: A scientist hesitates to publish research because they feel like they don’t know enough.
3. The Natural Genius
Believes that if they were truly smart, things would be easy.
Struggles when something takes effort and assumes they must not be good enough.
Example: A gifted child who never had to study in school struggles in college and starts doubting their intelligence.
4. The Soloist (The Lone Wolf)
Feels like asking for help is a sign of incompetence.
Tries to do everything alone to prove their worth.
Example: A business owner refuses to delegate tasks because they think it will expose them as a fraud.
5. The Superhuman
Measures self-worth by how much they can juggle at once.
Feels like they are never doing enough.
Example: A parent, student, and employee trying to balance everything but constantly feeling like they’re falling short.
How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome
Now that we know why it happens, how do we fight it?
1. Reframe Your Thoughts
Instead of: “I don’t belong here.”
Try: “I’m learning and growing like everyone else.”
Instead of: “I only got lucky.”
Try: “I worked hard for this, and effort is part of success.”
2. Keep a "Wins" Folder
Start a document or journal where you record your achievements, compliments, or positive feedback. When you start feeling like an imposter, review the evidence that you are, in fact, capable.
3. Talk About It
Chances are, if you share your feelings with mentors, colleagues, or friends, you’ll discover that they’ve experienced Imposter Syndrome too. Even top CEOs and Nobel Prize winners have admitted to feeling this way.
4. Embrace Mistakes as Part of Learning
Think about how babies learn to walk. They fall over all the time, but no one says, “Wow, what a failure.” Instead, we celebrate their efforts. Learning and growing as an adult is the same process—failure and mistakes are part of getting better.
5. Focus on Progress, Not Perfection
Instead of asking, “Am I good enough?” ask, “Am I improving?” Every expert was once a beginner.
6. Separate Feelings from Facts
Just because you feel like an imposter doesn’t mean you are one. If you received a job, a promotion, or a degree, it’s because you earned it. Feeling uncertain is normal—it doesn’t mean you’re a fraud.
Final Thought: Even The Best Feel It
Did you know that Albert Einstein once said he felt like a fraud and worried people gave him too much credit? Or that Maya Angelou admitted feeling like one day someone would expose her as a fraud, even after publishing numerous books?
Imposter Syndrome doesn’t mean you aren’t good enough. It just means you care about doing well—and that’s a good thing.
Commentaires