What is it?

The imposter syndome is that nagging feeling you have, that somehow you don’t belong, you haven’t earned your success and that at any moment you will be uncovered. It’s helpful to understand the difference between real imposters, imposter feelings and the imposter syndrome.

Real imposters

People who claim expertise that they do not have.

Here are some examples:

The executive Myer hired on a $400,000 salary with faked qualifications. Sydney Morning Herald report Dec 2014

The pop duo, Milli Vanilli, who won a Grammy Award but never sung. Wikipedia

The student who conned Harvard University for two years and got $45,000 in grants. Boston Globe, May 2010.

Imposter Feelings

The feeling of having misrepresented yourself despite objective evidence to the contrary.

Most of us have these feelings occasionally, perhaps when you start a new job, need to make a presentation, have to write something. But usually we don’t let them stop us. we just get on with things.

The Imposter Syndrome

The thoughts, feelings and behaviours that result from the perception of having misrepresented yourself despite objective evidence to the contrary.

The imposter syndrome is when the imposter feelings become more persistent and they have an impact on how you think, feel and behave.