Beyond the Fraud Feelings: Exploring Imposter Syndrome

You're sitting in a meeting, surrounded by colleagues. Someone compliments your recent work, but instead of feeling proud, your internal dialogue kicks in: "If they only knew how many times I had to revise that presentation..." or "I just got lucky this time."

Sound familiar?

As a therapist, I've sat with high-achieving professionals who, despite their impressive track records, are convinced they're just moments away from being "found out." This phenomenon – Imposter Syndrome – isn't just about self-doubt. It's about the complex relationship we have with our own competence. Here is an assessment tool by Dr. Pauline Rose Clance, PhD, to uncover ways that Imposter Syndrome might be showing up in your life.

The Hidden Cost of Disowning Your Success

When we attribute our achievements to luck or external factors, we're not just being modest – we're actively disconnecting from our own story. Would you dismiss a friend's accomplishments as "just luck" the way you dismiss your own? This disconnect doesn't just affect how we feel; it impacts how we operate in our professional and personal lives.

Beyond the Standard Solutions

If you're rolling your eyes at the thought of another article suggesting deep breathing or journaling, I hear you. While these tools have their place, tackling imposter syndrome requires something deeper. Let's explore some less-discussed approaches:

1. Examine Your Success Story - But Not How You Think

Instead of focusing on your feelings about success, try this: Pick three of your achievements and answer these questions:

• What specific obstacles did you overcome to reach this goal?

• What skills did you develop along the way?

• How would you have guided someone else through this challenge?
  

This isn't about positive thinking – it's about gathering evidence and examining it with the same rigor you'd apply to any other analysis.

2. Reframe "Expertise"

Many of my clients believe expertise means never struggling or always having immediate answers. Consider this alternative definition: An expert is someone who has encountered enough challenges in their field to develop effective problem-solving strategies. How does your self-assessment change under this definition?

3. The Strategic Use of Uncertainty

Try this counterintuitive approach: Instead of fighting the feeling of uncertainty, use it as data. When that "I don't belong here" feeling hits:

• What specific knowledge or skill feels missing?

• Is this a real gap you can address, or an impossible standard of perfection?

• How could this uncertainty actually be serving your growth?
  

4. Create Your Own Competence Timeline

Map out your professional journey, not by achievements, but by problems solved:

• Challenges you initially thought were impossible

• Solutions you developed that you now use routinely

• Moments of struggle that led to important learning
  

Moving Forward: A Different Kind of Action Plan

Instead of trying to eliminate imposter feelings, focus on building a more nuanced relationship with them:

1. Practice strategic disclosure: Share your imposter feelings with select colleagues. You'll often find they've had similar experiences, and these conversations can lead to valuable mentoring relationships.
   

2. Develop your "evidence protocol": When imposter feelings hit, what specific evidence will you look for to test these thoughts? Make it concrete and measurable.
   

3. Use the "future self" perspective: How might you view your current struggles five years from now? What would you want to tell your past self about the challenges you've already overcome?
   

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Imposter syndrome isn't always the enemy. Sometimes it's a sign that you're pushing your boundaries and growing into new capabilities. The goal isn't to never feel like an imposter – it's to build a more sophisticated understanding of how competence actually develops, and to learn to trust your capacity for growth even when you're uncertain.

The most dangerous form of imposter syndrome isn't the feeling that you're not good enough – it's the belief that you should never feel that way at all. ──────────── ✦ ────────────

RESOURCES TO CONSIDER: If you'd like to explore this topic further, here are some resources:

1. "Presence" by Amy Cuddy - Explores how our physical presence and mental states intersect, offering evidence-based approaches to building authentic confidence.
   

2. Dr. Valerie Young's TED Talk, "The Evolution of Imposter Syndrome" - Provides practical strategies for reframing your relationship with success and competence.
   

3. "Own Your Greatness: Overcome Impostor Syndrome" by Drs. Lisa and Richard Orbé-Austin - A practical workbook addressing both personal and systemic factors contributing to imposter syndrome.

   
   

   If this topic resonates with you or you'd like support processing your experiences, I'm here to help. Whether it's this topic or something else on your mind, feel free to reach out. Sometimes talking things through with a professional can help bring clarity and healing. 

   
   

   Sarahbeth Spasojevich, LPC, MEd, MA, MBA, NCC

   Licensed Professional Counselor

   Connected Resilience, LLC

   For scheduling: (804) 220-0388 (text/phone) 

   sarahbeth@connectedresilience.us 

   www.connectedresilience.us