I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard people say they were experiencing Imposter Syndrome in the past year. I work with extremely talented, diverse, and gifted people who are bringing their brilliance to seats of power. They are not imposters! So why all the self-doubt? I’ve written this hack in hopes that we can eradicate Imposter Syndrome once and for all. Please let me know how it lands with you.
First of all, a definition: The term “Imposter Phenomenon” is now preferred, as syndrome is to some people stigmatizing and pathologizing. Imposter Phenomenon is defined as “an internal experience of intellectual phoniness” and was coined in 1978 by clinical psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes.
- When you feel it sneaking up on you, stop, notice, and name it. We each have our own variations, but the voice in my head goes something like …
“Hmmm… these people in this room are all really cool! They have done incredible things! How did I get in this room? I must have faked my way. At some point I will say or do something that reveals that I really don’t belong here.”
Catch that thought: I am feeling Imposter Phenomenon!
- Recognize that Imposter Phenomenon is usually not experienced by straight white cis/gender men. I am not a straight white cis/gender male, but I’ve spent my fair share of time around them. They tend to walk into the room and think something like…
“Hmm … these people in this room are all really cool! They have done incredible things! So have I! I am so glad to be in a room of my peers; finally I’m surrounded by people as cool as I am.”
Let this sink in: IP is not a universal phenomenon. It only happens to SOME of us.
- Flip it. After you’ve noticed and named it, try saying to yourself…
“Imposter Phenomenon is a tool of white patriarchy. It subtly operates to make me (in my female body, or person-of-color-body, or not cis/hetero-normative body, or more than one of the above, cumulatively) feel “less than” others here. Clearly, this tool serves almost imperceptibly to build up some people and tear others down, without anyone having to say or do a thing. IP is a tool that internalizes the judgment of “less than” so that we shrink when we should shine.“
Additionally, we can say to our lovely selves:
“Perhaps nobody built the IP tool on purpose; maybe it evolved bit by bit. Lack of intent does not mean lack of impact; I feel the impact of this tool of white supremacist patriarchy because I have been socialized to feel it.”
- Self talk can then become curious, as in:
“Hmm. These people in this room are really cool! Someone must think I’m really cool to be here … Wait, I am really cool, and I have done really cool things. I am also a work in progress. How cool that I get to be in a room of my peers: surrounded by people as cool as I am who are also works in progress (even though they may look perfect)”
- One last thing. If someone compliments you on an idea, a project, or even your outfit or hairstyle, instead of saying “Thank you,” try saying “That’s nice to hear!” I’ve been doing this for a while and, trust me, something shifts a little: the nice words have more than a nanosecond to sink in.
I hope this helps you to more consistently show up as your badass self!
❤️ Dori
PS: Here’s two good resources on the topic.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1HZ6xyN2nB/?mibextid=UalRPS
https://hbr.org/2024/03/its-time-to-reconceptualize-what-imposter-syndrome-means-for-people-of-color