The Tyranny of the Imposter Syndrome

“Impostor syndrome is not a clue that you're unqualified. It's a sign of hidden potential.” Hidden Potential

In today’s newsletter, we will analyze the imposter syndrome and figure out whether constantly reminding ourselves about its existence is useful. Before we started, here are some of the most popular masterclasses, podcasts, and newsletters in 2023.

1. Most shared podcast among academics: The Good Jobs Strategy with MIT Prof Zeynep Ton

2. Most shared masterclass among Fortune 500 executives: Genpact CEO Tiger Tyagarajan on the future of work

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The Tyranny of the Imposter Syndrome

“Impostor syndrome is not a clue that you're unqualified. It's a sign of hidden potential. When you think others are overestimating you, it's more likely that you're underestimating yourself.” Hidden Potential

Impostor syndrome refers to a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments, and has a persistent fear of being exposed as a "fraud". Despite evidence of their competence, individuals experiencing impostor syndrome tend to attribute their success to luck, timing, or external factors. They fear that others will eventually discover that they are not as competent as they appear to be.

Is it okay to have self-doubt? Absolutely. Is it okay to think that you are an imposter because you have self-doubt? Absolutely not.

There are millions of online videos and social media posts where people share how they overcame their fear of being called a fraud. Some of them may be helpful but by and large, they do a disservice to the people they wish to serve. They almost make it seem like feeling like an imposter is the precondition for doing interesting things. Most follow a predictable script which goes something like:

1. Everyone feels like an imposter. You are not alone.

2. Going the extra mile to prove that you are not a fraud is a worthy pursuit.

3. If you work hard, meet interesting people, and prove yourself, your imposter syndrome will turn into confidence.

Again, there is nothing wrong with these messages but by normalizing the imposter syndrome, they tend to plant seeds of doubt among people who may not be thinking about it. They make it seem like if you don’t experience the imposter syndrome and believe that you at least partially deserve your accomplishments, you are pompous.

There is no nobility in thinking less of yourself. If you are thrown into a new situation and need time to acclimatize, that’s nothing more than a form of preparation that should be welcomed. Trying to avoid feeling like a fraud by always taking safe projects with predictable results is a sure-shot way to disappoint your future self.