Here’s a little brain-teaser: If the whole world is “faking it until they make it,” maybe no one is. This was an idea that arose at a recent Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) symposium. “The New IC: Empowering Women and Engaging Men” put a spotlight on how women can be encouraged to lead while still fostering the talents of everyone who chooses to serve in the Intelligence Community. In a panel discussing the challenges of women in technology, Dr. Ilana Heintz, Senior Scientist, Raytheon BBN Technologies brought up one of the culprits holding women back in the technology sector: “Impostor Syndrome.”
Of course, women are not the only ones held back by Impostor Syndrome. Most social scientists agree that 70% of people have suffered from it at some time in their lives. So what is Impostor Syndrome? Who does it affect? And, most importantly, how can we fight against it?
What is Impostor Syndrome?
Have you ever found yourself in a meeting, a job interview, or even a date and thought, “Man, I am in way over my head. Any minute someone is going to call me out for the fraud I am.” Most of us have. We realize we are in a position of achievement or expertise and we can’t believe that our own knowledge and skills brought us there. We think everyone else, belongs there, but we’re the only fraud. This is Impostor Syndrome.
To an extent, Impostor Syndrome is natural human modesty. We look up to other people and it seems strange that someone might look up to us, as well. But oftentimes, Impostor Syndrome is a little more sinister. In her Ted Talk on the subject, CEO Lou Solomon says she thinks of Impostor Syndrome as the “crappy best friend in your mind who’s always critical.” It’s the voice in our heads telling us that we haven’t earned our success. This crappy inner voice can have real effects on your career, your relationships, and your life.
The Causes of Impostor Syndrome and Why Everyone Should Care About It
Of course, the causes of Impostor Syndrome are as varied as the people who suffer from it. Some people who are particularly susceptible to it are those who grew up with alcoholic parents, in abusive homes, or with incredibly critical parents and family influences. Likewise, high-stress jobs that allow no room for mistakes can also breed Impostor Syndrome. When people become accustomed to heavy amounts of criticism or extreme reactions to minor mistakes, the voice in their head starts to take on the attitude of their environment.
As a manager or a recruiter, impostor syndrome can be very costly to the bottom line. When employees or job candidates are insecure about their own abilities, it affects everyone. These are just a few ways Impostor Syndrome can haunt a workplace:
- Employees procrastinate out of a lack of confidence, costing time and money.
- Workaholism can develop across entire companies because employees think they must work 20-hour days to keep from being “found out.”
- Insecure employees will “fly under the radar;” they’ll fail to speak up, offer feedback or communicate with their team because they don’t want to be noticed.
- Prospective employees will fail to apply for positions of leadership because they feel unqualified. Internal employees will also fail to ask for promotions.
Overall, companies can be losing time, money, and valuable people in its workforce if employees think they are unworthy of the positions they hold.
The Big Secret of Impostor Syndrome
So, you may be reading this and thinking, “Other people may think they’re frauds, but I actually am one.” The good news is that you are wrong. I’ll let you in on a secret: everyone is an impostor.
Mike Cannon-Brookes is the co-founder of Atlassian software, which makes products like Trello and HipChat and are used across the world. He is a multi-billionaire and he’s not even 40. He admits that not only did he feel Impostor Syndrome when he was awarded Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2006, but that he sometimes even feels it about his own wife! And he’s not the only one. Many other people of great achievement—like Maya Angelou, Tom Hanks, Sonia Sotomayor, and Neil Armstrong all have questioned whether they really belong at the grown ups’ table. So just remember, if you feel like you are just “faking it until you make it,” you’re probably not the only one.
Though you may never be rid of this voice in your head, Cannon-Brookes offers some practical advice of how to use it to your advantage. He suggests not questioning yourself, but questioning your knowledge. To ask questions or work to learn more about a topic does not mean that you’re a fraud. It means that you’re not being paralyzed by your insecurity, it’s motivating you to up your game and feel worthy of the high position you find yourself in.
