What is Imposter Syndrome?
If you have Imposter Syndrome, you may feel like a fraud—like someone made a mistake hiring you or giving you that award. You may feel out of place or undeserving of your accomplishments (no matter how successful or qualified you are).
It's not a mental disease or disorder, but rather, it is a feeling that can results from many different internal or environmental factors. Some people may feel imposter syndrome as a result of anxiety or negative self-image. Oftentimes, however, these feelings are a direct result of classism, systemic racism, sexism, or unrealistic expectations from higher-ups.
The purpose of this guide is to help identify feelings of imposter syndrome, know where they stem from, and provide a path towards eliminating those feelings before they affect your personal growth.
Find Out More
Imposter No More: Overcome Self-Doubt and Imposterism to Cultivate a Successful Career by Call Number: BF637.I46 S76 2023ISBN: 9781538724798Publication Date: 2023-09-19
Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim by Call Number: PZ7.1.P3613 IM 2023ISBN: 9780593563373Publication Date: 2023-02-21
The Palgrave Handbook of Imposter Syndrome in Higher Education by Call Number: EbookISBN: 9783030865696Publication Date: 2022-04-12
Own Your Greatness: Overcome Impostor Syndrome, Beat Self-Doubt, and Succeed in Life by Call Number: BF637.I46 O73 2020ISBN: 9781646040247Publication Date: 2020-04-28
Unlocking Your Authentic Self: Overcoming Impostor Syndrome, Enhancing Self-confidence, and Banishing Self-doubt by Call Number: BF637.S4 H86 2021ISBN: 9781734598810Publication Date: 2020-02-28
There are multiple ways to experience imposter syndrome. Recognizing which type of "imposter" you are is key to adopting the right realizations and strategies to break out of your current mindset. Author and imposter syndrome expert Dr. Valerie Young has coined these five main types:
- The Perfectionist - These people set extremely high expectations for themselves, so even the smallest mistakes can shatter their self-confidence. Achievements are rarely satisfying for them because they always believe they could have done better.
- The Superhuman - Insecure that they've been misplaced among their more-qualified colleagues/classmates, these people find themselves working extra hard to measure up and prove they're worth of their position. They find downtime wasteful and often sacrifice their own personal hobbies and freedoms for work.
- The Natural Genius - These people believe that competence is measured by innate ability. Used to things coming naturally to them, the natural genius feels flustered and even ashamed if they do not master a new skill quickly and easily.
- The Soloist - In this person's eyes, asking for help would reveal that they don't belong in their position. These people find themselves refusing assistance to prove that they are capable, and this can come with many downsides (especially in collaborative environments).
- The Expert - Experts measure their worth based on how much they know or how much they can do. They tend to avoid challenging themselves or applying for positions where they don't meet every single qualification. No matter how long they've spent in their field, these people find themselves believing that they don't actually know anything.
Want to know which type you have? Click the link below and scroll down to take the quiz!
This infographic from Kajabi explains ways to overcome feelings of imposter syndrome. Kajabi focuses on helping upcoming business owners and entrepreneurs, but anyone experiencing self-doubt or feeling unqualified can adopt these approaches to their work. Click the image to read their blog, which expands on each strategy.
About the Guide Creator
Sara Severns '22 earned her art education degree and a former student library assistant. Along with holding a student leader position at the circulation desk, she designed library displays on many different topics of interest since 2019.
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Created by Honey Dill. Link to his website where it is recognized that their content is under a copyright. https://www.iamhoneydill.com/new-stuff/2019/6/27/imposter-syndrome
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