Do you feel like a fraud at work, dismissing praise despite your expertise? That nagging fear of being exposed as incompetent—even when you’re objectively skilled—is a hallmark of imposter syndrome. Many high achievers battle self-doubt, convinced their success stems from luck rather than ability
The 10 Most Common Signs of Imposter Syndrome:
1. Self-doubt: “I got promoted, but I’m waiting for them to realize they made a mistake”. You constantly question your abilities and feel that you’re not as competent as others perceive you to be.
2. Credit Luck, Not Skill: “That project succeeded because the timeline was generous“. You believe that your achievements are due to luck or external factors, rather than acknowledging your own skills and efforts.
3. Paralyzing Fear of Failure: “I avoid new challenges because failing would prove I’m a fraud”. Because of your fear of making mistakes or failing, you hesitate to take on new challenges.
4. Downplaying achievements: “My team carried me—it wasn’t really my success“. You often minimize your accomplishments instead of recognizing your own contribution. You may attribute success to external factors like teamwork or easy tasks.
5. Perfectionist Standards: “If it’s not flawless, it’s not good enough“. You set unrealistic expectations for yourself. As a result, you feel like you constantly need to meet exceptionally high standards to prove your worth.
6. Compulsive Overworking: “I stay late to double-check work no one asked for“. To compensate for perceived inadequacy, you work excessively long hours. You may also put in unnecessary effort to prove your competence.
7. Difficulty accepting praise: “My manager said I did great, but she’s just being polite“. You feel uncomfortable with or dismiss compliments and positive feedback.
8. Comparing yourself to others: “Jana got there faster—she’s clearly smarter”. You frequently compare your achievements and abilities to those of your peers, often feeling inferior as a result.
9. Fearing evaluation: “Performance reviews terrify me—they’ll see I’m not qualified“. You worry that others might discover your supposed lack of competence, leading to anxiety during performance evaluations.
10. Difficulty internalizing success: “I aced the presentation, but it was a fluke”. Instead of believing that your success stems from your own skills, efforts, and qualifications, you struggle to internalize it.
How to Rewire Your Imposter Mindset
Step 1: Name the Story
Recognize that the negative thoughts are just a story feeding you incorrect thoughts. This is a part of your mind that you’ve been unconsciously focused on, but it’s not all of who you are.
Step 2: Collect Evidence
Keep a “proof file” of positive feedback and accomplishments to combat self-doubt.
Step 3: Reframe Failure
View mistakes as data (“What can I learn?”) rather than proof of inadequacy.
Step 4: Set “Good Enough” Standards
Replace “perfect” with “progress”—complete tasks at 80% quality to break the overworking cycle.
If you would like more help to overcome imposter syndrome, schedule a free 30-minute one-on-one consultation today
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To learn more about overcoming Imposter Syndrome, watch this video.
Liane Wansbrough | High-Performance Coach
