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There are people never accept less than 100%

No matter how much they achieve loud success, no matter how much they receive the most prestigious recognitions, they constantly question their own performance. Underneath the surface, which looks attractive from the outside, there are thousands of doubts. These people are constantly afraid that it will turn out: their whole existence is a scam. It sounds weird, but word-class stars like Neil Armstrong, Tom Hanks, Michelle Obama, Emma Watson or Robbie Williams also suffer from it.

According to Wikipedia, Imposter syndrome (also known as imposter phenomenon, imposterism, fraud syndrome or the imposter experience) is a psychological pattern in which the person doubts his/her performance and accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a “fraud”. There’s an important distinction of being a “maximalist” or having imposter syndrome.

People who are always self-doubting, self-marching people spin sleeplessly before a performance. They are wondering when they will be disguised, when their incompetence will come to light. These people constantly struggle with ultra low self-esteem. They sincerely believe that their achievements can only be attributed to their lucky constellation, and not their abilities or effort. In their inner life, they are actually blinders. It is only a matter of time before someone shouts, “The king (the queen) is naked.” They make sure that they are uncovered once and that the great fraud cannot last forever.

History

The imposter syndrome, first described by Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes in 1978, was more common with women, and early research focused on the prevalence among high-achieving women, but later on imposter syndrome has been recognized to affect both men and women equally. Among them, it is mainly the highly qualified people who achieve significant achievements that are most affected. The results, the success, does not change the voice that is constantly rumbling in their ears, which tries to convince them that they are unfit for the task.

In her 1985 paper, Clance explained that imposter phenomenon can be distinguished by the following six dimensions:

1. The imposter cycle
2. The need to be special or the best
3. Characteristics of superman/superwoman
4. Fear of failure
5. Denial of ability and discounting praise
6. Feeling fear and guilt about success

Clance noted that the characteristics of these six dimensions may vary. By this model, for an individual to be considered to experience imposterism, at least two of these aspects have to be present. Clance theorised that the most important aspect to understand the manifestation of this experience can be seen through the imposter cycle she created.

Building upon decades of research, Valerie Young further experimented fraudulent feelings among high achievers. From her book “The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer From the Imposter Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It”, she was able to identify five subgroups this syndrome often falls into.

1. The perfectionist
2. The superwoman/man
3. The natural genius
4. The soloist
5. The expert

Studies suggest that more than 70% of people experience the imposter syndrome at some point in their career. By identifying the above competency point,  you can take steps addressing it.

What is an imposter like?

For those with imposter syndrome, one hundred percent is the minimum, the perfect is acceptable. They employ chains of thought that negatively repaint reality.

This can be a result of a new academic or professional setting. Research shows that imposter phenomenon is not uncommon for students who enter a new academic environment. Feelings of insecurity can come as a result of an unknown, new environment. This can lead to lower self-confidence and belief in their own abilities

If I don’t know something, I don’t know anything.” “If something fails, I’m a complete mass.” Such and similar so-called thinking errors make it difficult for them to make a realistic assessment of the situation. Even though these people get recognition, it does not help them. As they contact with more and more successful people, they feel that they do not belong, and cannot belong to them. The on-the-job female mentoring program created to treat imposter syndrome failed badly because the mentee felt that the mentor was a superwoman to whom she would never be able to grow up to. The comparison, then, only keeps the imposter syndrome alive.

What can you do about it?

You may recognize some of the symptoms on your own. Don’t panic.  The imposter syndrome is treatable.

1. Talk about it

It is the most important to share your doubts with your friends, family members or trusted colleagues and listen to their opinions. This will help you to be more objective regarding your own performance if you have many positive strokes from multiple sources.

2. Accept and own your success

The important thing is to accept: success is yours.

Take a different approach: just as you can have shoes, a bag, a house or a car, so can you. You succeed because you worked, and that’s yours.

3. Stop comparing

It is important that you do not compare yourself to others. The comparison is your worst enemy. Every time you compare yourself to someone else, you hurt yourself. Because once you used to hear “Look at the little girl next door” a thousand times ago, you no longer have to mantra yourself how much better others are than you.

4. Create your success log

The “success log” can provide a solution, no matter how strange it sounds. If you write down every month, every two months, what successes you’ve had lately, or where you’ve come from, what you “put on the table”. Read these back after a year. You will realize that over and over again you are able to achieve your goals, success is not a random state in your life.

5. Distinguish facts and feelings

Let’s strive to be able to distinguish emotions and facts (accomplishments). If we feel stupid, that doesn’t mean we really are.

If you want to have a clarity wheter you are also suffer from imposter syndrome, feel free to fill this test .

I invite you to talk about your fears and doubts regarding your performance in a free clarity call.