During World War I, a boy scout troop sold a number of war bonds, and for their effort they were presented medals by former President Theodore Roosevelt. On stage, the former President commended them and then called out their names one after another.
At the end, one scout was left alone on the stage. Roosevelt looked at his list, saw no other names, glared at the embarrassed boy, and asked, “What is this little boy doing here?”
The boy would later explain that much of his insecurity in crowds and reluctance to give speeches were rooted in that moment. He said, “I can still hear people asking, 'What is he doing here?'”
Have you ever felt that way? I interact with technology leaders every day, and many of them confess to feeling like an imposter.
It’s such a common experience, we have a label for it: Imposter Syndrome.
What Is Imposter Syndrome
Imposter Syndrome is an internal belief about yourself. Typically, it is defined as the belief that you do not deserve the success that has come your way, a belief that you are not as qualified as others think, and that others think you are more capable than you do.
But there is a more effective way to understand Imposter Syndrome. And it’s important to get it right, because imposter syndrome affects you in three major ways:
- Mood: If you believe you are an imposter, you will be hounded by anxiety, fear, and dread.
- Motivation: Imposter syndrome dampens our motivation, exercising caution that wouldn’t be there if the right confidence was in place.
- Margins: Imposters avoid exposure; they guard what they get involved in, limiting themselves to areas of competence and proven ground rather than expanding into other opportunities.
Imposter Syndrome is fueled by fear that is rooted in shame and promotes separation. Shame is the belief that you are never enough. You fear being put in a place where your weakness is shown and known. Therefore, you separate yourself from opportunities and from others.
All of this feeling is reinforced by your enemies:
- Forces against you. We all have them - social, psychological, circumstantial. You run up against something that acts contrary to you rather than constructive for you.
- Ideas and ways of doing things. No one gets where they are without being the product of someone and something. Part of being a leader is sorting through ideas and ways of doing things that no longer serve you or are not really true of you. Ask “why” of yourself more often.
- False self. We are becoming. There are in you traits and beliefs that are not healthy, do not serve you well, and need to be corrected. Correction is direction; we are constantly needing to blow the whistle on our false self and align it with what is true to our identity, capacity and purpose.
The Imposter Syndrome is living a lie that fears an exposure that isn’t even true.
How To Overcome Imposter Syndrome
Two dynamics free us from the syndrome.
- Tell the truth. You have been faithful in your work. You are valuable to others: Leadership is more than competence; people have seen in you the character and the chemistry they desire to have around them. Few people rise other than by the lane of intelligence, talent, emotional equilibrium and relational savvy. Don’t compare yourself to the outliers.
- Transform imposter syndrome into initiative, intelligence and inquisitiveness. Where once you were hesitant, prove yourself to yourself, not to others. You know you have the capacity to learn, so learn. Work smarter. People whose competence is greater than their confidence approach opportunities differently. They think and rethink. Ask questions and commit to being a lifelong learner.
A boy is alone on stage. Unlisted. Horrified. Haunted.
His name was Theodore Seuss Geisel. We know him as Dr. Seuss, one of the most prolific and famous children’s books writers of all time.
Dr. Seuss wasn’t just left alone on a stage. His high-school art teacher told him he would never learn to draw. His college classmates voted him least likely to succeed.
He faced his share of forces against him, of ideas and ways of doing things contrary to his own beliefs, of inner lies that needed to be corrected.
I’m glad he overcame them. I’m even happier that you are overcoming yours.
