Imposter syndrome is wrong about you
There was a time I walked into a room and immediately felt like I didn’t belong. It was a top-tier business school, the kind where the buildings are steeped in prestige and the people wear confidence like it's tailor-made. My peers - many with decades of experience - spoke in polished soundbites, throwing around theories and frameworks like they’d written the textbooks themselves.
Meanwhile, I sat there thinking “How did I end up here?”
It took a few weeks (and a reality check) to realise something crucial: I was keeping up. More than that, I had insights they didn’t. The only thing setting me apart wasn’t ability - it was self-doubt. And once I started contributing, I saw it clearly: I wasn’t the imposter. My inner critic was.
What is imposter syndrome, really?
First coined in 1978 by psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes, imposter syndrome describes a persistent feeling of inadequacy despite clear evidence of success. It’s that nagging voice that whispers:
You just got lucky
They’ll figure out you don’t belong
You’re not as good as they think you are
And it’s common - up to 70% of people experience imposter syndrome at some point in their lives (International Journal of Behavioral Science, 2011). But here’s where it gets interesting:
It affects different people differently. Women and marginalised groups experience it more intensely, often because they’re operating in spaces not originally designed with them in mind.
It thrives on perfectionism. High achievers and first-generation professionals are particularly susceptible, tying their worth to flawless performance.
It might not even be real. Critics argue that "imposter syndrome" is an individual diagnosis for a systemic problem - blaming people for struggling in environments that were never welcoming in the first place (Harvard Business Review, 2021).
So maybe imposter syndrome isn’t a personal failing. Maybe it’s a response to being in the kind of room that makes you question whether you belong, when really, it should be questioning whether it deserves you.
Imposter syndrome vs. self-doubt: where’s the line?
Not all self-doubt is imposter syndrome. The real issue isn’t feeling uncertain, it’s when you doubt yourself despite having proof that you’re capable. That’s where the damage happens.
So how do you fight back?
How to shut imposter syndrome up (for good)
1. Reframe the narrative
Next time you think, I don’t belong here, challenge it:
Instead of I’m not qualified, say: "This is a new challenge, and I’m learning."
Instead of I just got lucky, say: "I worked for this, and I earned it."
Your words shape your reality so choose better ones.
2. Track your wins
Keep a "Brag File" - a running list of achievements, great feedback, and moments where you did that. Self-doubt is a lot harder to entertain when you have receipts.
3. Surround yourself with people who get it
Build your Personal Board of Directors - mentors, colleagues, and friends who remind you who you are when you forget.
4. Speak to yourself with compassion
If your best friend told you they were feeling like a fraud, you wouldn’t tell them, Yeah, you’re probably right. You’d remind them of everything they bring to the table. Talk to yourself the same way.
Let’s be real - it’s not always you
Sometimes, imposter syndrome isn’t about you at all. It’s about workplaces that weren’t built with everyone in mind. It’s about unwritten rules that assume a certain background. It’s about being the first or the only in a space that doesn’t feel like home.
In those moments, the job isn’t to "fix" yourself, it’s to recognise the bigger picture. And then decide: Do I change the system, or do I take my talents somewhere that actually values them?
Want more?
I talk about all of this (and more) in the latest WorkWell Podcast episode, Imposter Syndrome Is Lying To You. Listen in for real talk, practical strategies, and some much-needed myth-busting.
And if you’re ready to start owning your brilliance, my self-paced online Own Your Brilliance course is designed to help you do just that. Click here and use the code OWNIT10, valid until February 28th.
Because you belong in every room you step into.
Final thought
You’re not an imposter. You never were. The only fraud here is that tiny voice telling you otherwise.
Now, what’s one thing you’re proud of this week? Drop it in the comments - I want to hear it.
