Are you dealing with IMPOSTER SYNDROME ?
Tags: discuss, career, community, productivity
Published: 2022-12-02 21:11:52

### Purpose of this article: 


1. [What is imposter syndrome ? and You are not alone in this syndrome](#chapter-1)
2. [Chance to start sharing with others and thinking about how imposter syndrome is wrapped up in your own life.](#chapter-2)
3. [How to handle the syndrome and reduce the effects of it!](#chapter-3)
  
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## Introducing the syndrome 🥺 <a name="chapter-1"></a>

![Image imposture syndrome](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/uqn3u4qfkihi87dmx94x.png)

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### “I’m a fraud”

Imposter syndrome is loosely defined as doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. It disproportionately affects high-achieving people, who find it difficult to accept their accomplishments.
 
Albert Einstein
> The exaggerated esteem in which my lifework is held makes me very ill at ease. I feel compelled to think of myself as an involuntary swindler. 

![Image I’m a fraud](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/m8bzazr0nll8hj5l2lz3.png)
 
Kate Winslet
> Sometimes I wake up in the morning before going off to a shoot, and I think, I can’t do this. I’m a fraud.

![Image Kate Winslet](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/4qmhiegcvls5o58jansl.png)
 
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### “They’re going to find me out”

Most of us have experienced feelings of doubt and unworthiness at some point in our lives. But when your accomplishments are a result of your own knowledge, hard work, and preparation and you still feel inadequate ... you're probably suffering from impostor syndrome.

Maya Angelou
> I have written 11 books but each time I think ‘Uh-oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.

![Image Maya Angelou](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/agjimhgsteth2y5xgdlb.png)

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### “Everybody else knows more than me”

It's the feeling that everyone else knows exactly what they're doing, but you feel lost. 

Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organisation 2006
> There are an awful lot of people out there who think I’m an expert. How do these people believe all this about me? I’m so much aware of all the things I don’t know.


![Image Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organisation 2006](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/pv6sbf55kf2uo6llmoiy.png)


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### “I’m about to embarrass myself”

Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer, Facebook 2021
> Every time I was called on in class, I was sure that I was about to embarrass myself. Every time I took a test, I was sure that it had gone badly. And every time I didn’t embarrass myself — or even excelled — I believed that I had fooled everyone yet again. One day soon, the jig would be up


![Image Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer, Facebook](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/3jahcorfzhgs4jf5xxus.png)


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**This is imposter syndrome** 🚨

![Image This is imposter syndrome](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/te92a0m3nhd42prxun0g.png)

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## Imposter syndrome and you <a name="chapter-2"></a>

Let's openly talk about it, and share that you are not alone with this feeling, your comment will help others feel better and come out of imposter syndrome.

### Poll please 🗳️

#### Do you experience imposter syndrome?
1. Yes
2. Sometimes
3. No
4. Don’t know enough about imposter syndrome to say
5. Other

#### Does it affect your professional life? 💼
1. A lot
2. A bit
3. No
4. Don’t know

Looking forward to hear from you in the comments 📝

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## Lets overcome this shit 💪 <a name="chapter-3"></a>

- Share your feeling, talk about it, it's the first step towards overcoming the syndrome.
- Recognize the skills you have already.
- Identify your fears and doubts and make a plan to work on them
- Create a career timeline that works for you and keep track of your accomplishments
- Onboarding is designed to take time. So don't worry if you have joined a new company and it's taking time to adjust.
- Check in with your peers or manager
- Compare with your past self
- Find your place on the Dunning-Kruger curve.

![Image Dunning-Kruger curve](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/yuprrs9n9kt30aqb6lo1.png)

>The purpose of Dunning-Kruger curve is to understand people's inability to recognize their lack of experience. Because a lack of knowledge leads to not knowing what are you talking about and confidence makes it impossible to realize it. The graphic shows ability curve, overconfidence and competency.

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## It never ends:
> handle imposter syndrome as you progress ! 🎉

{% user mnathani %}