Business Bites: Imposter phenomenon

“I have written 11 books, but each time I think, ‘Uh oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out’,” – Maya Angelou

Often referred to as ‘imposter syndrome’ (IS), the term ‘imposter phenomenon’ (IP) was coined by Dr Suzanne Imes and Dr Pauline Clance in their 1978 paper on the concept. They used the word ‘phenomenon’, reasoning that it was a natural experience and not a clinical disorder.

In 1985, Pauline Clance also developed the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS), designed to help people see how they compare to others. It was developed to assess self-reported levels of the concept that individuals are successful by external standards but have an illusion of personal incompetence.

The CIPS, a five-point scale with response options ranging from five (strongly agree) to one (strongly disagree), measures three facets of IP. It contains 20 items that comprise: a) Fake; b) Discount; and c) Luck sub-scales.

Fake items assess self-doubt and concerns about intelligence and ability; discount items assess the thoughts about the inability to acknowledge good performance and praise for such performance; and luck items assess thoughts of having accomplished tasks due to luck, or chance, or even error compared to ability.

Managing IP in business

People can feel like an imposter at work, and leaders are not immune to this. When someone has IS, they experience repeated feelings or thoughts that they are incompetent or not good enough, despite evidence to the contrary, and a fear of being found out. Individuals doubt their skills, abilities, or accomplishments, and fear being exposed as a ‘fraud’ despite evidence of their success. These individuals struggle to internalise their achievements, often linking them to luck or external factors rather than their own capability.

Managing IP within a business is key to the success of that business – as individuals who feel like impostors are more likely to be risk averse and less adaptable making them more likely to shy away from challenging opportunities and steer clear of innovation.

It should be known that it is acceptable to make mistakes whilst pursuing innovation. Learn from these mistakes as a business and adopt the ‘learn it all’ approach as you progress and avoid the ‘know it all’ at the outset mindset. That impostor feeling may be because you’re out of your comfort zone. Perhaps you’re in a new role, or running a project that’s stretching your thinking. That discomfort is simply because you’re in learning mode.

IP can be worsened by the guilt that accompanies the fraudulent feeling. Acknowledge this feeling as a normal reaction to a situation or setting; it does not mean you are underperforming.

This feeling is felt by others, not only to you. Fleeting feelings of impostorism are normal, even in those who you think are confident, and talking honestly about highs and lows along with coaching and mentoring can help to reduce these feelings. The affirmation of successes and competencies is key.

According to IP expert Valerie Young, people who feel like imposters have a confused view of what it takes to be ‘good enough’.

Young has identified five ways that individuals that experience IP hold themselves to unrealistic standards, based on ideas of what it means to be competent.

• Expert: you judge yourself based on the quantity of information and knowledge you have, and feel you never know enough
• Super person (superhuman): you expect yourself to excel at an equally high level in multiple job functions and roles
• Perfectionist: you expect your work to be flawless
• Soloist: you think asking for help is a sign of weakness
• Natural genius: you judge your competence based on your ability to pick things up and master them quickly and easily

You might relate to more than one type. Many people with IP do.

How to overcome IP

According to the WebMD article, ‘Imposter syndrome: how to overcome it’ by Booth and Bhandari, it is possible to overcome IS. The authors suggest the following:

• Remind yourself of your wins. Make a list of things you’ve done well and which you’re proud of. Save emails and notes that contain praise from others. When you feel like a fraud, reviewing all this can help reassure you that you’re not
• Separate your feelings from the facts. The next time your self-doubt crops up, remind yourself that they’re emotions, not facts
• Be kind to yourself. Try to show yourself some self-compassion. What would you say to a friend who was having the same thoughts? Maybe you’d remind them that they’re not only capable of success but should be allowed to make mistakes
• Practice accepting praise. When someone offers you a compliment, you might be in the habit of deflecting it. (“Thanks, but …”) Try saying only, “Thank you.” It will help you enjoy the moment instead of pushing it away
• Don’t compare yourself to others. It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others. Instead, focus on being a better version of yourself. The goal isn’t to be perfect. Nobody is
• Challenge yourself. When you catch yourself being critical, challenge yourself to come up with a more positive point of view. For instance, “I’m only getting offered the job because no one else wants it” could become “I’m being offered the job because I work hard and my co-workers like me.
• Understand the syndrome. Keep in mind that actual frauds don’t have imposter syndrome. The very fact that you have imposter syndrome shows that you’re not an imposter
• Talk to someone. Your friends and family can help remind you that your fears aren’t real. Or see a therapist, who can help you learn new ways to overcome imposter syndrome

Summary

As mentioned earlier, managing IP within a business is key to the success of that business as individuals who feel like impostors are more likely to be risk averse and less adaptable making them more likely to shy away from challenging opportunities and steer clear of innovation. The sense of being an impostor is real and can be personally debilitating, but it is more than a personal experience. Speaking up despite feeling like an impostor is an important skill to help us and others to keep learning. To stop feeling like an impostor, stop thinking like an impostor.

Useful links

The Imposter Syndrome Instritute
BBC World Service: Imposter Syndrome