Imposter Syndrome Is For Everyone

For those unfamiliar with the term, Wikipedia defines imposter syndrome as “a psychological occurrence in which an individual doubts their skills, talents, or accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud.” Essentially - you’re worried that you’re not actually as competent as those around you think you are, and instead you somehow tricked them into giving you a chance you don’t deserve.

Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. Unfortunately, one of the sneakiest aspects of imposter syndrome is that it also convinces you that you’re the only person who’s ever experienced it - that it’s your inherent weakness instead of a shared human experience.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with some pretty impressive people, people who founded startups, people who went to all the best schools and got all the best jobs. Here’s the thing: even the most well-credentialed Stanford engineer will have a brief flash of imposter syndrome when in a room full of people they perceive as smarter, better or more talented than they are.

I want to pause on that word for a minute: perceive. You see, imposter syndrome is all about how you perceive yourself and the people around you. When you’re earlier in your career, or working in an area you’re unfamiliar with, it’s easy to assume everyone around you brings more value than you, whether due to being more senior at the company, or having a more coveted set of credentials.

While this perception isn’t entirely inaccurate (yes, there are things the other people in the room will bring more value to than you), it’s over simplified. Many of the people around you may have more experience, or had a higher grade point average, or did better on their SATs… but that doesn’t automatically make them more qualified than you in every situation - and it certainly doesn’t make you less qualified than you actually are.

For instance, maybe you’ve encountered something in your life that no one else has, and it gives you some unique insight on a situation. Maybe you just have better critical thinking and problem solving skills. Maybe experience has given people blindspots they’re unaware of and you can point them out. Maybe you actually do have pretty much the same credentials as everyone else sitting at the table, you’re just undervaluing yourself at the moment.

While experience definitely doesn’t hurt when trying to get things done at work, the more important thing is often having a variety of viewpoints at the table. Don’t discount your personal journey, experiences and learnings just because the people around you have been at the table a little longer, or sat at (what you think) are better tables before this one.

It’s also important to remember that everyone starts as an imposter. No one is born with inherent knowledge on database design or civil engineering or how to read an x-ray. They all had to start somewhere… and some of them probably started in a pretty similar spot to the one you’re in right now.

So, next time you’re in a meeting and worried that as soon as you open your mouth everyone will immediately know they made a huge mistake in hiring you, or investing in your company, take a deep breath, read the room, and remember that everyone around you has been in your exact position. Then, speak up!