'I'm a Fraud' – How Imposter Syndrome Hides in Plain Sight and How to Overcome It
First coined as ‘impostor phenomenon’ by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes to describe successful women who couldn’t properly internalised their success, imposter syndrome has blossomed into a well-known pattern of thought which leaves people feeling fraudulent. And although women tend to be most affected, they aren’t alone. (Clance & Imes, 1978)
Men in similar roles show a lesser tendency towards Imposter Syndrome (IS), more rarely downplay their achievements, although there are many men who feel just as fraudulent as their female counterparts. But why, where does this sense of internal mistrust stem from, how is it expressed in different people and what tools can be used against it? (Clance & Imes, 1978)
What does imposter syndrome look like?
Avoidant, critical, and anxious. People can experience IS in various ways; however, the bottom line always looks the same: a feeling of professional or personal inferiority.
Do you find it difficult to trust your own expertise, constantly battling self-doubt and unable to accept a genuine compliment? These are common traits of IS. Although IS is not recognised as a clinical diagnosis, it does go a long way towards explaining many common behavioural patterns. (Sakulku & Alexander, 2011)
When successful and singled out for their work, someone with IS will deflect praise onto external factors: lucky timing, great teamwork, market factors, and so on. In many ways, this deflection is used as a defence mechanism to deter further examination of their work. Essentially, people operating with intense IS are innocent people acting guilty. It wasn't me, look somewhere else, I think you've got the wrong person. (Clance, 1985, as cited in Sakulku & Alexander, 2011)
Valarie Young, researcher and founder of the Imposter Syndrome Institute, outlines five defined archetypes of imposter syndrome, each with a unique focus. (Young, 2011)
Perfectionist
Naturally, the perfectionist wants nothing more than to be perfect. Although this is an admirable pursuit, it is also pointless, as perfection is by definition impossible. Perfectionists often develop IS because they can never live up to their own impossible standards and therefore feel fraudulent.
Natural Genius
Someone who always ‘gets it’ really struggles when they don't. Working hard is seen as a weakness by a natural genius, because most things come easily to them. This required effort in turn invites IS to fill in the mystery for them: ‘I'm working really hard at this, and I still don't get it fully, therefore I must be an imposter.’
Soloist
Working alone comes with many advantages, and some people are great at utilising them. However, solo work is often insulated from external criticism. Often, when a soloist operates in a team, they feel constant scrutiny, and the effects of IS are invited in to explain this uncomfortable pressure.
Expert
A person who has to know everything will inevitably feel vulnerable when they don't know something. The nature of their personality means knowledge becomes an integral pillar of their character, and when it fails, they feel inadequate. This feeling is the same, no matter if everyone around them also lacks the required knowledge.
Superhero
Often stemming from childhood, someone playing the superhero takes it upon themselves to do their job and that of the people around them. This pattern of behaviour is reinforced by strong role models, regularly a hard-working parent or relative. When they're unable to ‘save the day’, they tend to hear IS knocking at the door.
When is imposter syndrome most likely to hit?
During periods of success, change or praise. Someone with intense IS is likely to feel it whenever and wherever. Those who experience it in fleeting moments are more often triggered by significant moments.
Change does strange things to our minds. IS is just one component; however, if left unchecked, it can at best spoil a moment of success and at worst be debilitating.
We see this often in our business, and in a recent KPMG survey of 750 women (75% reporting IS), 57-58% experienced IS most intensely when promoted or transitioning to a new role. That reaction to success is certainly not exclusive to women. Although there does seem to be a sociological component to IS, which means minority groups face it more often. (KPMG, 2020)
If you are a member of a minority group of any kind, it's easy to shoulder the responsibility of your group's perception. In turn, that often leads people towards the Superhero archetype of IS. (Young, 2011)
How does imposter syndrome affect the different archetypes?
Depending on the type of person, IS is triggered and expressed in unique ways. Understanding where your IS stems from is critical to understanding how it might affect you. Again, we'll return to Young's archetypes.
Perfectionist
Someone who is triggered by any outcome that isn't flawless – a typo in a report, one critical comment in a sea of praise, a project that's 95% great.
IS often emerges as a constant, low-grade hum rather than something episodic, because there's almost always something imperfect to fixate on. IS feelings likely spike right after finishing something, when the flaws become visible, rather than beforehand. (Young, 2011)
Expert
Not knowing something, or being asked a question they can't answer instantly, will more than likely set off an expert.
In contrast to perfectionists, experts will face the most intense IS feelings at the start of things – a new job, a new tool, a new field – before they've had time to master it.
Natural Genius
Struggle and hard work can be unfamiliar to people who are so naturally gifted. When faced with a daunting task – one they're not naturally gifted at completing – IS will be triggered.
For a natural genius, IS appears in early adulthood after a childhood or school history of things coming easily. For these young achievers, IS can be a surprise when they hit a domain – leadership, parenting, a new skill – where ease doesn't apply.
Soloist
Asking for help, delegating, or admitting they can't do something alone will invite IS feelings into a soloist's mind.
This happens in moments of collaboration or when stuck – asking a colleague, hiring help, requesting an extension. They can feel fine solo, even under pressure, but the moment interdependence is required, doubt kicks in.
Superhero
Whenever a plate drops from their spinning sticks, the superhero will feel those pangs of IS. For superheroes, IS isn't a singular issue but a build-up of overcommitments.
It tends to build gradually through overcommitment, then crash – burnout is often the release valve. This is especially common during periods of visible success, because success raises the bar for what ‘enough’ looks like.
How can I navigate imposter syndrome?
One of the biggest steps is understanding where the IS comes from. After that, reframe your thoughts – actively change your thought behaviour until it sinks in.
There are various ways you can wrestle with IS. One commonly mentioned tactic is open discussion. But as I like to say, just because my friends and I talk about how we’re not confident, it doesn't make us confident. Talking is great, but to properly overcome the debilitating nature of IS, you have to take active steps.
Here are the seven steps I have put into practice:
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Write out your current standards. Ask yourself what's good enough? (not to you, but objectively)
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Talk to a trusted friend, colleague, or mentor.
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Find stories of people who've dealt with IS.
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Take breaks when you start feeling the effects of IS. (especially if you’re a superhero)
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List your strengths and write a positive story about one of your successes, attributing the success to your intellect, effort or skill.
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Reframe your IS thoughts. Turn ‘I got lucky’ into ‘I navigated the complexities skillfully.’
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Repeat step five and six until it is natural.
If you're dealing with intense IS feelings, reading this will not change anything immediately. Only with constant, active effort can you start to turn the tide on your thought patterns. But that effort is easier than you might think. Want to work somewhere which values you and constantly supports you career journey? Click here.
FAQs
Is imposter syndrome a recognised mental health condition?
No. Despite how common and consuming it can feel, imposter syndrome isn't a clinical diagnosis. It's a well-documented pattern of thought — first identified by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes in 1978 — rather than a condition you'd find in a diagnostic manual. That said, it can still meaningfully affect wellbeing and performance, which is why it's worth taking seriously even without a formal label.
Does imposter syndrome only affect women?
No. Clance and Imes's original research focused on high-achieving women, and it does appear to affect them disproportionately — a 2020 KPMG survey found 75% of the 750 women surveyed had experienced it, with over half reporting it most intensely around a promotion or role change. But men experience it too, often just as intensely, and there's a sociological angle worth noting: people from minority groups of any kind tend to face it more often, likely because of the added pressure of representing or being seen to represent their group.
Which of the five archetypes am I — and does it matter?
Most people lean towards one or two of Valerie Young's five types (Perfectionist, Expert, Natural Genius, Soloist, Superhuman) rather than fitting neatly into just one, and it can shift depending on context — you might be a Soloist at work but a Perfectionist in a personal project. It's worth identifying your dominant pattern because the practical fix differs by type: a Perfectionist needs practice shipping "good enough" work, a Soloist needs practice asking for help, and so on. Generic confidence-boosting advice tends not to land, because it doesn't address the specific rule your particular type is holding itself to.
References
Clance, P. R. (1985). The impostor phenomenon: Overcoming the fear that haunts your success. Peachtree Publishers.
Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. (1978). The impostor phenomenon in high achieving women: Dynamics and therapeutic intervention. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research & Practice, 15(3), 241–247. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0086006
KPMG. (2020, October 7). Advancing the future of women in business: A KPMG Women's Leadership Summit report. KPMG LLP. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kpmg-study-finds-75-of-female-executives-across-industries-have-experienced-imposter-syndrome-in-their-careers-301148023.html
Sakulku, J., & Alexander, J. (2011). The impostor phenomenon. International Journal of Behavioral Science, 6(1), 73–92.
Young, V. (2011). The secret thoughts of successful women: Why capable people suffer from impostor syndrome and how to thrive in spite of it. Crown Business.
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