Men and women in meeting looking worried with wording "Ten Signs You Have Imposter Syndrome"

If you’ve found yourself on this page, chances are you’re curious about whether those nagging thoughts at work of “I’m not good enough” or “How did I even get here?” could mean you’re dealing with Imposter Syndrome. I’ve created this list of ‘Ten Signs You Have Imposter Syndrome’ as a helpful guide to understanding the symptoms and offering insights into some of the most common ways it affects your confidence.

This is intended to be a brief guide, but if you’re looking for more information on this topic, check out my other blog, ‘Do I have Imposter Syndrome?’ Here, I go into more detail about who gets it, how you know if you have it, and what you can do to address it. There is also a Quiz you can take to help you work out if you are suffering from Imposter Syndrome.

So, let’s dive into the Ten Signs and see which ones resonate with you.

The Ten Signs You Have Imposter Syndrome

1. Constant self-doubt and negative self-talk: You regularly question whether you’re good enough, no matter how much experience or success you’ve had. There’s a lingering sense that you’re not as capable as others think you are. You engage in an internal dialogue that is critical, harsh, or dismissive of your capabilities.

2. Overworking to compensate: To make up for the self-doubt, you might find yourself over-preparing or overworking to prevent any mistakes. This behaviour often leads to burnout, as you push yourself beyond reasonable limits to prove your worth.

3. Fear of being exposed: You often worry that at any moment, someone will realise that you’re not as competent as you appear to be. This fear can make you avoid stepping into the spotlight, going for a promotion, or taking on new responsibilities.

Worried woman, eyes down pretending to take notes. Caption "Sign 3. Fear of being exposed"

4. Feeling unworthy of success: Despite achieving your goals, you feel undeserving of the rewards or recognition that come with them. No matter how much you achieve, you can feel detached from your success, as though it wasn’t truly earned. This disconnect can leave you feeling unfulfilled and dejected despite outward accomplishments.

5. Avoiding promotions or opportunities: You might shy away from career advancements, fearing that more responsibility will expose your perceived weaknesses. Even when offered new opportunities or chances for recognition, you hesitate, thinking you’re not ready.

6. Excessive focus on mistakes: You dwell on insignificant errors or missteps, and even minor slip-ups can weigh heavily on you. You replay these mistakes over and over in your mind, allowing them to lower your confidence and question your self-worth.

7. Difficulty accepting praise: When someone compliments your work, it can feel uncomfortable, leading you to dismiss their praise. You often attribute your success to luck or external factors rather than your own abilities.

8. Perfectionism and fear of failure: You set excessively high standards and feel that even small mistakes prove you’re not competent. You are terrified of making mistakes, which causes you to procrastinate or avoid challenges entirely. A fun fact for you: ‘atychiphobia’ is the official name for fearing failure.

9. Burnout and emotional exhaustion: The constant pressure to perform at your best, combined with the fear of failure, often leads to mental and physical burnout. If you feel emotionally drained, are struggling to keep up, or maybe even considering quitting altogether, press pause and seek help. It’s likely the impact of long-term Imposter Syndrome. You can learn about the signs of mental exhaustion and emotional burnout here.

10. Issues with confidence and self-esteem: In helping people overcome Imposter Syndrome, I have noticed that competence and self-esteem tend to go hand in hand. Ultimately, feeling like an imposter is a symptom of a lack of confidence, and when your confidence drops, your self-belief is also affected.

If any of this sounds familiar, you may be dealing with Imposter Syndrome.

If you haven’t already, I suggest you take my 11-question Imposter Syndrome Quiz to find out how this may be impacting your life. Then visit my other blog, Do I have Imposter Syndrome? to interpret your answers. You’ll find the key at the bottom of the page.

Free Clarity Call

If Imposter Syndrome has been holding you back and you’re ready to overcome it, I’d love to support you. Click the button below to schedule a free chat. We’ll explore what’s been standing in your way and how, with Rapid Results Coaching, we can move you forward with confidence.

I look forward to guiding you towards achieving your goals, recognising your worth and creating a more fulfilling career. You deserve to shine and feel good about your achievements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Imposter Syndrome is complex, and while the list I’ve provided covers many of the common signs, there are other ways it can show up—sometimes in ways that aren’t immediately obvious.

For example, you might also have people-pleasing tendencies and say ‘yes’ when you’d rather say ‘no’. Maybe you compare yourself to others (at work or in your personal life) or feel like you’ve “tricked” others into seeing a different, more capable version of you. These could be down to a lack of confidence, but if you have a number of these symptoms, it’s more likely to be Imposter Syndrome.

It’s possible to only relate to some of these signs and still have Imposter Syndrome. If you’re unsure whether you’re dealing with Imposter Syndrome or to what extent, speaking with a professional coach will help you to understand your own situation better.

Yes, you can overcome Imposter Syndrome. The symptoms you’re experiencing are often signs of a deeper issue, and with the right guidance, they can be resolved. Sometimes, you might already have a sense of what’s driving those feelings, while other times, it takes talking it through with someone to uncover the root cause.

Both terms come from the work of the psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes. They published their findings in a 1978 study. They refer to the same thing and can be used interchangeably.

Not really. While low self-esteem can be a symptom of Imposter Syndrome, they aren’t exactly the same.

Low self-esteem influences how you see yourself across all areas of life. It connects to your levels of confidence and self-belief. With Imposter Syndrome, it’s possible to have strong self-esteem and feel competent in many areas of your life but still experience intense self-doubt in your professional role.