Imposter Syndrome will keep you working round the clock! + Quiz

Do you ever feel like you're not good enough, no matter how hard you work? Like you're just waiting for someone to figure out that you're a fraud? If so, then you may be experiencing imposter syndrome.

What is Impostor syndrome?

Impostor Syndrome is a psychological phenomenon in which people are unable to internalize their accomplishments and instead doubt their own competence and worth. This often leads to self-doubt, anxiety, and depression. Impostor Syndrome is particularly common among high-achievers, women, and minorities. This cocktail of emotional hell can lead people to work harder and longer in an attempt to prove themselves worthy. But this can quickly lead to burnout if left unchecked.

So, in this article, let’s learn about impostor syndrome in greater detail and more importantly how it can drive you to work too much and get you to burnout sooner or later.

While impostor syndrome is more common among women and minorities, anyone can experience it. Most people experience some degree of imposter syndrome at some point in their lives, but it can be especially challenging when you're trying to achieve high levels of success! The harsh reality though is that impostor syndrome can sabotage our careers and personal lives.

Why do we feel like an imposter?

There are many reasons why someone might feel like an imposter at some point in their careers. The most common reasons include:

⦁ Coming from a position of less-than-average achievement or confidence.

⦁ Having been thrust into a new situation without enough experience or training.

⦁ Suffering from self-doubt and insecurity about one's abilities.

⦁ Experiencing personal setbacks or failures.

How to recognize Impostor Syndrome?

There are a number of signs that will help you to recognize impostor syndrome showing up in our lives. Some of them are:

⦁ You downplay your successes and attribute them to luck instead of skill

⦁ You regularly second-guess your decisions and worry that others will realize how “unqualified” you are

⦁ You avoid taking on new challenges because you fear failure

⦁ You feel like an outsider in your field or workplace and constantly compare yourself to others (who seem more successful). These comparison thoughts often fuel further feelings of inadequacy.

Sound familiar? If so, don't worry - you're not alone! Many highly successful people suffer from impostor syndrome. However, what’s more important to recognize is how workplace culture fuels impostor syndrome!

How workplace culture fuels Impostor Syndrome?

In many workplaces as well as in business and entrepreneurship, there's an emphasis on perfectionism and always being the best. There's also a lot of competition for recognition and credit. So, this can create an environment where people feel like they have to be perfect all the time in order to avoid being seen as a failure.

Hence, when we compare ourselves to others who seem to be doing better than us, it only heightens our sense of inadequacy and fuels impostor syndrome. And when we don't get the validation we seek from others, whether it's through awards, promotions, or simply positive feedback, this can further reinforce our belief that we're not good enough. If you suspect that you might be suffering from impostor syndrome, pay attention to how your workplace culture makes you feel.

Are there certain aspects of your job or company ethos that contribute to worries about not measuring up? Once you identify any possible triggers, you can start working on countering them with more positive self-talk and reframing your thinking.

Additionally, certain workplace cultures can be hostile or unsupportive to women and minorities. This can make people who don't fit into the dominant demographic feel like outsiders and increase their fear of not being good enough and being exposed as a fraud. This can lead to feelings of anxiety and self-doubt. It also leads to behavioural changes that strive to help the person with the overwhelm, but can actually be very damaging and lead to workaholic habits, and even workaholism.

How can Imposter Syndrome lead to workaholic habits?

Well, it’s quite obvious isn’t it? Since, imposter syndrome makes people feel like they are not good enough or qualified for their jobs, they tend to change their work habits in order to compensate for their perceived lack of abilities, knowledge or skills.

You may try to ''compensate'' by working longer hours or taking on more responsibilities in an attempt to prove yourself, justify your place in the company and fight for more recognition.

Additionally, feeling like a fraud can lead to perfectionism and an unhealthy need to always be in control, both of which can contribute to workaholic tendencies.

Furthermore, you may fall into the trap of wanting more and more validation in the form of rewards, bonuses etc. that the successes you have and become recognised turn into the adrenaline and happy hormones hit that is so sweet and addictive that can keep you ''chained to the desk''.

This can make it difficult to take pride in their work, and it can be hard to enjoy the tasks of their job.

It can also lead to feelings of guilt or shame when they feel like they're not able to meet the high standards that others expect of them.

Workaholism is often seen as a positive; someone who is willing to put in the extra hours and go the extra mile is usually applauded for their dedication and commitment. However, when workaholism stems from imposter syndrome, it can be detrimental both to the individual and those around them.

How does imposter syndrome result in burnout?

Imposter syndrome can be incredibly detrimental to our mental health and well-being. It’s been linked with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and even suicide. Impostor syndrome can often lead to a burnout because these individuals often push themselves too hard to try and prove their worth.

And while it might seem like something that only affects high-achieving individuals, the truth is that anyone can suffer from Imposter Syndrome and Burnout.

How to break the cycle of Impostor Syndrome?

Although impostor syndrome is pretty common nowadays, it can be overcome with the right approach. Here are some tips that can help you break the never-ending cycle of self-doubt and anxiety.

⦁ Work on your work-life boundaries. Focus on building firm boundaries with your work and ensuring you take care of yourself with the same dedication as you do for your work and projects. We have a few articles that cover these topics, so I recommend that you explore the Resources page on our website.

⦁ Accept that you are not perfect and that perfection is not an achievable thing. Just like everyone else, there are areas where you need to improve. Recognize that you’re not alone in this and appreciate the hard work that others put into their career/life endeavours.

''Striving for perfection is like trying to find the end of infinity.'' - Leah Spasova

⦁ Find a support group: Speaking up and sharing your experiences with other people who share similar challenges can be extremely helpful. Connecting with others who understand what you’re going through can provide guidance, increase confidence and ensure a good stream of encouragement.

⦁ Take action: don’t dwell on your perceived weaknesses; find things that you are good at and focus on those. Pursue opportunities that challenge you to reach new levels, even if they seem daunting at first. Don’t let your fears stop you from achieving your goals!

Ready to Unmask Your Inner Critic?

Curious how much Imposter Syndrome really holds you back? Take our quick 12-question quiz to pinpoint where you land—from “I’ve got this” to “It’s time for a breakthrough”—and get personalized insights!

Conclusion

I hope you have enjoyed this blog about imposter syndrome. From my experience, it's something a lot of people struggle with. Please share this article if you found it useful or relevant! And we would love to hear from you, so if you have any questions at all please don't hesitate to reach out.

And to learn more about workaholism and related topics, be sure to subscribe to our blog! We’ll continue posting new blogs on a wide variety of well-being topics covering:

• burnout,

• workaholism,

• perfectionism,

• imposter syndrome,

• how these lead to high turnover at companies,

• costly errors at work, and on the more personal side of things -

• how childhood trauma along with social structures and norms lead us to have poor work-life boundaries,

• what are the family dynamics in workaholics’ homes,

• how our bodies, relationships and intimate lives are affected by our working habits

• and more….