Impostor Syndrome in High Achievers
What is Impostor Syndrome?
People often say ,’Fake it till you make it.” But that doesn’t work for ambitious and driven professionals who are always seeking success,right?Because it is hard to figure out when you’re faking it and have earned a seat at the table.
“Despite ample evidence of one’s achievements, the inability to internalise one’s success is known as Impostor Syndrome”
There is a constant fear of not being good enough and being exposed as a fraud. Every tag you assign to yourself-inadequate, fake, unqualified, incapable, bogus- seems real.
“Approximately, 7 out of 10 people experience impostor syndrome at least once in their lifetime. And paradoxically, impostor syndrome is more common in high achievers than others”
Actress Emma Watson, who rose to fame, bringing Hermione Granger alive on the screen, admits to experiencing this syndrome and says that the feeling amplifies the more successful she becomes.
What Are The Causes Of Impostor Syndrome?
Some psychologists say that impostor syndrome is linked to how we respond to experiences in our lives. It is rooted in beliefs of hurtful past experiences and false notions of standards of success. It gradually implants untruths, which can cripple the strongest minds.No amount of achievements can bestow that sense of appreciation from inside when this syndrome takes over our psyche.
When external success heightens, the sufferers believe that they are only faking it better. They fall deeper into the corrosive spiral of Impostor Syndrome.
Signs That You’ve Faced Impostor Syndrome
If you’ve told yourself any of these statements in your life.you too have faced impostor syndrome-
‘I will soon be exposed’
‘I must not fail’
‘I lucked out’
‘This achievement is no big deal’
They are better’
I cannot ask for anyone’s help’
‘I am not good enough’
‘What if people find out I am a fraud?’
‘They’re just being nice’
Even though impostor syndrome is not qualified as a mental health problem according to the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, it is highly self-sabotaging and dysfunctional.
“Since people with impostor syndrome aggressively pursue success while not accepting recognition, one may experience high levels of stress and burnout”
Such individuals will find that their work performance and job satisfaction plummet suddenly. Anxiety and depression are typical by-products of impostor syndrome.
What Are The Types of Impostor Syndrome?
Impostor Syndrome, though unknown commonly, is a common tendency in most of the people. There are different manifestations of impostor syndrome shaped by person’s innate nature, experiences and environment.
A word of caution here:It is crucial to note here that these classifications are not set in stone. Their scientific viability is a suspect. Hence, it is always better to seek a professional’s opinion. Also, an individual may exhibit cues of more than one type.
Here are a few common types of impostor syndrome and how you can deal with it:
1. The Perfectionist-
Such individuals have a constant need to be meticulous. They set excessively high goals for themselves and when they miss these high standards, they experience major self-doubt. For them, success is seldom satisfying because they believe that they could have done better. This is a counter-productive tendency which wipes out self-confidence.
Means to overcome: Continuous appreciation of one’s achievement, success and growth. You can cultivate this by cherishing the small wins that will eventually add up to bring in contentment and boost self-confidence.
2. The Experts-
Experts gauge their prowess based on ‘what’ and ‘how much’ they know or can do, and more often than not, want to know it all. Since it is impossible to learn or know everything, experts believe they tricked others into getting the position. They will soon be revealed as inexperienced or unknowledgeable.
Means to overcome:Striving to learn is constructive but being too hard to miss out on some things is irrational. If taken too far, this tendency can lead to procrastination of work because you are always waiting to have 100% information. One way to overcome this is to reframe learning as continuous process and linking self-worth to one’s openness and ability to learn rather than how much knowledge one has.
3.The Superman/woman-
These are the workaholics that are convinced that they are phonies among capable colleagues. They always push themselves beyond their limits, or they might be exposed. If you feel stressed when you’re not working and find downtime completely inefficient, then you belong here.
Means To Overcome: Start training your minds to perceive constructive criticism as professional improvement areas rather than personal flows. Steer away from comparisons and external validation. Instead, compete with yourself and benchmark growth from where you started.
4. The Soloist-
Sufferers who feel as though seeking help is a sign of weakness are identified as Soloist. They firmly feel that they need to accomplish things on their own to have merit in their eyes.
Means To Overcome: Ask once and see how magical it can be. While it is good to be independent, there’s no point in being foolhardly about it.
“Remember, even superheroes need a sidekick to succeed in their missions. And it takes a village to make a person successful.”
5. The Natural Genius:
This category of impostors feels shame and remorse if they take a longer time to master something. They have this compulsive need to be a natural genius. They are similar to perfectionist. But they don’t just want to achieve lofty goals. They also want to reach them on the first try. Their self-confidence is scarred if they cannot do something quickly or fluently and start to thin that they are impostors. Instead of crediting effort, they credit genetics.
Means to overcome: There are no natural geniuses. Try picturing yourself as a work-in-progress. Achieving great things involves lifelong learning and tremendous efforts for everyone. Rather than beating yourself up within a limited time, change your mindset, and focus on making efforts to achieve the goal in the best way possible for you. Discern that Rome was not built in a day!
The next time impostor syndrome takes over, remember this, there can never be another you in the entire universe. The same emotions, the same skills, the same capabilities, the same compassion will not be blessed on this planet except by you. So how can you be an impostor? Let that sink!