Imposter Syndrome needs a rebrand
Imposter Syndrome needs a rebrand
How to turn Imposter Syndrome into Imposter Advantage
There’s a debate going on in the (increasingly toxic) narrative of LinkedIn: is Imposter Syndrome real, or has it become a term that unhelpfully masks negative work culture and discrimination?
The narrative goes that we weren’t born with Imposter Syndrome. That certain groups in society; women, BIPOC, LTGBQ groups experience higher levels of the sense that we don’t deserve our success because of learned behaviours. Bullies, toxic work culture, insecure colleagues, negative assessments of our behaviours (too loud, too much) that make us question our place. Check out writers such as Amy Kean for some authoritative writing on this POV.
So there’s nothing to write about, right? I disagree. At LookUP we think there is an opportunity to turn Imposter Syndrome into Imposter Advantage: something that can help propel you forward, rather than hold you back.
Let’s start with how Imposter Syndrome is actually defined, how it comes to life & what triggers it.
Coined by Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Ames in a research paper in 1978, the pair actually identified ‘Imposter Phenomenon’, not ‘syndrome’. They described the idea that ambitious people have a tendency to believe that they must have fooled everyone to achieve their success, even in the face of evidence to the contrary. ‘Syndrome’ was a word that was added over time, but it’s not medically a syndrome, just a phrase that gets used to group lots of feelings.
One of the ironies of ‘Imposter Syndrome’ is that we can feel like we are alone in experiencing it. And yet 50% of us in the UK identify with the concept and 72% of us say it has held us back at work. If so many of us identify with the concept in some way, does it matter where it’s come from?
100% yes. Because it shouldn’t just be on us as individuals to solve, particularly if the term is being used to mask toxic behaviours. We need to ensure that the responsibility also lies on society, the workplace and then, and only then, on us.
So how do we experience Imposter Syndrome? When I’m not extolling the virtues of StoryTelling for Growth to our clients, I also run a community based business called Board Women. We work with women in their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and beyond to embrace board sports to increase their confidence. I started skating at 45 years old, I go several times a week, and our community is 2,000+ in 20 countries around the world. And yet, I don’t call myself a skater.
Why is this? It’s for numerous reasons. I don’t feel my expertise lives up to it. I don’t dress ‘like a skater’. I feel at the fringes of the culture. And this drives a lack of belonging and identity in something I love and despite my beginner status, am getting better at. My experience brings to life nearly all of the triggers of Imposter Syndrome, many of which are focused on new experiences or not feeling part of the culture.
This happens in the workplace too, at all levels. Imagine the most successful person you know. There is an extremely high likelihood that these feelings still strike them (I know, because I spoke to many for this piece). The symptoms can be far ranging, from low level anxiety and procrastination, to extreme burnout, isolation and low self esteem.
Recognising that it affects nearly everyone is one of the first steps in reframing Imposter Syndrome to your advantage. In researching this piece, I reached out to an array of senior, established people in their industries. The people you see all over LinkedIn and think ‘you’ve made it’, and assume that their self confidence in that journey is unquestionable.
Let’s hear from Jane Shepherdson, Tiffanie Darke , Jasmine Wicks-Stephens and Nishma Patel Robb to prove that the opposite is true.
And let’s not kid ourselves that it’s just women who feel this way (which is assumed in some of the push back against it being about patriarchal systems). A call out to my LinkedIn audience of men elicited a barrage of responses confirming that they too experience these symptoms, and find them just as debilitating for their career. Studies are starting to catch up, and now assert that men experience these symptoms to almost exactly the same rates as women. They just deal with it differently.
When we start to frame the symptoms of Imposter Syndrome as normal, as something nearly everyone feels, it normalises it. It becomes a set of feelings that we can start to plan for, experience, and ride through.
So let’s get to how we transform Imposter Syndrome to something that drives growth and new opportunity, rather than holding us back.
In my skateboarding journey one of the most inspirational women I’ve interviewed is someone called ‘Aunty Skates’. A Bengali woman from Canada, she began skateboarding in her late 40’s, a classic lockdown enthusiast. Images of her skating in her sari went viral on TikTok, and she’s now a global icon in this space. She explains that when you feel fear, that’s when you take action. In her space, she means tactics like bending your knees, shifting your weight, but the same applies in your working life. Let’s talk about the 5 Acts of Imposter Advantage.
(1) Get Ahead.
If you know what your triggers for Imposter Syndrome are, you can work to minimise them and get ahead. Try writing down all of the imposter stories that seep into your brain. They might be from childhood, school, prior roles. List them all, and then try to reframe them. Can these things give you a unique perspective or way of doing things, even if they are different? Where you do feel out of place, make sure you prepare, prepare, prepare. Jane Shepherdson talks to the importance of what you wear in situations that make you feel uncomfortable (she advocates a great blazer to give her confidence). One of my clients described a set of revolving doors that she saw as her ‘superwoman’ doors. Once she stepped through them she would become a more confident version of herself.
(2) Embrace a Beginner Mindset.
See beginner status as an advantage. When you’re new to a situation you actually have license to ask questions, and embrace the power of learning. It’s an excellent opportunity to understand others point of view. We often tend to see our lack of experience as a disadvantage, but fresh perspective can be one of the most useful traits you can have in business (we obviously believe this, with a name like LookUP!).
(3) Make it Real.
When the feelings come, write them down. Then challenge what is actually real or valid in what you feel. What is facts, rather than emotion? Again, try and reframe where you can, or if you see genuine gaps, can you address them in the future?
(4) Think Ocean, Not Wave.
The more we gain acceptance that we can’t control everything, the more we can handle the feelings that Imposter Syndrome elicits. Allow yourself to pause, and let the feelings wash over you. Know that it will pass, that it is normal. There are numerous tools that help to calm your brain, but one of my favourites is one of the simplest. Think about what you can see, smell, hear, and touch. As you go through these it calms your parasympathetic nervous system, and it works very quickly.
(5) Be Your Cheerleader
Finally, it’s helpful to have something you can use as a resource when you do feel overwhelmed by Imposter Syndrome. Some of the people I spoke to keep a folder of client emails called ‘Yay Me’. Another kept a weekly reflection of what they had achieved that week. Finding your own personal board of cheerleaders you can contact when you have Imposter Syndrome is essential. People who can talk you down when your monkey mind gets going.
Finally, remember it’s not all on you. Companies need to be set up to optimise Imposter Advantage. They need to set up the environment in which someone feels comfortable asking questions. A culture that makes people feel like they belong. One that enables people to fail positively. That gives people feedback and makes them feel valued.
So give it a try! How will you use your Imposter Advantage today?
Thanks for reading! Before you finish, here’s a quick update from the LookUP team as to what we’ve been up to lately:
We’ve launched LookUP lifts: inspiration sessions for organisations to inspire their teams on a regular basis. Covering topics like Imposter Syndrome, they’re a great way to get your teams to LookUP before the day begins.
LookUP round the world: we’ve been working with clients on online programmes of learning to bring StoryTelling to their teams in 70+ countries.
LookUP to connect: we’ve evolved our sessions to harness your teams behind your story and help them to connect and co-create more effectively
If you’re interested in hearing more about what we do, we’re booking in sessions for Q1 2025, so reach out on caroline@wearelookup.com or matthew@wearelookup.com