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.
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.
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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.
This article on Imposter Syndrome is hilariously spot-on! Who hasnt spent hours over-preparing for a meeting, convinced theyll be exposed as a fraud at any second? The fear of taking on a promotion because youre not ready is a classic. And yes, replaying every tiny mistake in your head is peak Imposter Syndrome behaviour! Its like having a relentless inner critic with unlimited access and a grudge against your competence. While the article is insightful, it also makes you wonder if were all just secretly brilliant but terrified of proving it. Still, acknowledging these signs is a good first step.
This article on Imposter Syndrome is hilariously accurate! Its like a comedy sketch of my inner monologue, complete with overworking till the cows come home and fearing failure more than public speaking. The part about feeling unworthy of success despite actually achieving things is a classic – its like winning an award but thinking someone must have made a mistake. The difficulty accepting praise section had me crying laughing, constantly attributing things to luck. Honestly, if this isnt the ultimate guide to understanding yourself (and laughing at yourself), I dont know what is! Highly recommend it for a good giggle and maybe a bit of self-awareness.
Haha, finally a name for why I always bring 10 extra copies of every presentation! Imposter Syndrome sounds like the ultimate workplace confidence killer, making us work ourselves into the ground or hide in the shadows like a ninja avoiding praise. The part about feeling unworthy despite success is a classic – its like winning a prize but thinking someone must have made a mistake. But maybe the article is just another opportunity to overthink and prepare excessively for potential future imposter feelings? Either way, its a fascinating (and slightly exhausting) read!