This Is How Impostor Syndrome Limits Us Professionally
Although we may not know it, that does not prevent us from having felt it on more than one occasion. It often happens that, both in our workplace and in our studies, we sometimes get the feeling that we are not good enough for it, that our colleagues are much more skilled than we are, and even that we are a fraud without meaning to be.
This phenomenon is called imposter syndrome, a psychological condition that causes us to be unable to recognize our own success, thinking that the good things that happen to us are due to external factors and that we are nothing more than people full of defects and inabilities.
Given its definition, it can be assumed that this peculiar phenomenon has very negative consequences in the workplace. For this reason, below we will see How imposter syndrome limits us professionally
Imposter syndrome is a psychological process by which the person who develops it does not recognize his own success in the professional scope. Those who suffer from it constantly think that they do not deserve any of the recognition or triumphs derived from their work performance, permanently living with the feeling of not being worthy of it, of being a fraud and of deceiving those around them. They are not able to value their own merits.
Impostor syndrome has been widely studied since it was conceptualized in 1978. There are many people who suffer from it, and in fact we can mention widely known figures who admit to having suffered from it on some occasion. Actress Kate Winslet, singer Jennifer Lopez and astronaut Neil Armstrong, all of them recognized successes, say that at more than one point they have considered themselves frauds and not deserving of their achievements.
It is believed that this psychological phenomenon affects 70% of people at some point in their lives , especially women, and some experts usually relate it to perfectionist traits at pathological levels. People who suffer from it suffer from a persistent fear of being “outed” as some kind of work imposter. The curious thing is that it occurs, above all, in people with very high work performance and who are in charge of positions of great responsibility.
This feeling of being a fraud can become very blocking, so much so that it becomes a barrier that prevents further growth in the work environment. The majority of people who experience this psychological phenomenon see their professional careers limited, they have lower salaries, they receive fewer promotions than their colleagues with similar abilities and experiences, and they have more problems looking for new jobs.
It often happens that people are aware of their own shortcomings, but we do not see those of others Since we only see their strengths, we get the feeling that our coworkers are better prepared than us. It can give us the feeling that in certain people, failure simply does not exist. However, we must know that the professional success that we see in others is only the tip of the iceberg, and that the submerged part is made up of disappointments and failures that have not prevented them from moving forward.
How does it limit us at work?
Imposter syndrome can affect workers in multiple ways, ways we will delve into below:
1. Anxiety due to high self-demand
One of the main causes behind impostor syndrome is having too high perfectionism. People who are too self-demanding They are never satisfied with the final result of their projects, so much so that they may be revising and redoing them over and over again
The feelings he feels about his work are frustration and pessimism, thinking that what he has done is not worth the slightest and, therefore, he rejects the praise that may be given to him in his job. Added to this, this high level of perfectionism can generate a lot of anxiety and stress, emotions that can have a negative impact on professional performance.
2. Low self-esteem
People who suffer from imposter syndrome have very low self-esteem. These individuals can be very attentive to the work of others, constantly comparing themselves with their colleagues and paying close attention to those aspects that, no matter how minor, they have not done well and others have. This constant comparison is often fueled by the underlying belief that others deserve their achievements
If their self-esteem is already low, it is reduced even more when people with imposter syndrome see the world in a very biased way. They see themselves as people full of flaws, while they see others as successful people thanks to their virtues and strengths, something that further fuels the idea that they are a complete fraud.
3. Dysfunctional attribution
Attribution is the psychological process by which we attribute our successes and failures to different causes, internal or external, that is, to ourselves or to an external element, over which we normally do not have direct control. People with impostor syndrome attribute their achievements to external factors, such as luck, environmental circumstances, or the actions of another person, instead of considering that successes and achievements are a consequence of their own work, dedication, and ability.
This way of thinking will end up seriously affecting you psychologically and emotionally , making the person who suffers from the syndrome feel depressed when perceiving that the good things that happen to them are the product of factors over which they have no control, and that the bad things that happen to them are their fault. This further fuels the fear that others will “discover” that everything he or she has been able to achieve is due to, what he or she believes, luck.
4. Psychological rumination
Psychological rumination is the phenomenon that occurs when you cannot stop thinking about the same issue or negative idea, causing anxiety and anguish due to both its negative content and the fact that you have lost control over your thoughts, not being able to stop it. This situation can become so serious to the point where The person becomes obsessed and cannot abandon that recurring idea, losing hours and hours by constantly thinking about it, and on top of that suffering for it
Rumination is precisely one of the ways in which imposter syndrome affects us at work. In their case, rumination thoughts are usually related to the idea of not being fit for their job, of not deserving any of the successes they have achieved or believing that others are better and that, on top of that, they are constantly judged.
5. Lack of assertiveness
When we talk about assertiveness we refer to the ability to express opinions, emotions, ideas and interests in an energetic, direct but also respectful manner towards others. People tend to be more assertive when their self-esteem is higher as well as when they have a positive self-image.
On the contrary, people with low self-esteem and who perceive themselves as less effective people, as is the case of those who suffer from imposter syndrome, tend to be less assertive when it comes to giving their point of view or conveying their feelings.
You may be interested: “Assertiveness: 5 basic habits to improve communication”
6. Social isolation
Imposter syndrome affects social relationships because people who suffer from it They interpret praise and signs of professional recognition in a negative light, as if they were mockery or they were being lied to
This can cause those who suffer from this psychological condition to isolate themselves from others, not wanting to interact with their coworkers, interpreting any interaction with them as a possible threat. They also avoid rubbing shoulders with them at social events organized by the company, such as dinners or outings with co-workers.
Related article: “Unwanted loneliness: what it is and how we can combat it”
7. Clinging to the comfort zone
Those who are trapped in this syndrome They avoid challenges and do not leave their comfort zone In fact, this type of behavior is a fairly reliable indicator that one suffers from impostor syndrome, since one of its most notable features is the fear of failure, something seen as inevitable when the task to be carried out is new and one does not believe that one has or the knowledge or experience necessary to do it correctly.
For this reason, people who suffer from impostor syndrome are unlikely to accept new responsibilities, try new things in their jobs or compete for promotions or raises. Thus, we can say that imposter syndrome affects us, causing us to reject opportunities for growth and improvement.
8. Lack of motivation
Another way that imposter syndrome affects us is by taking away our motivation. Believing that you do not deserve your job or that you will not last long can make you lose the desire to make an effort or grow as a professional. The person believes that the success they may have at work is not in their control so you are losing the desire and interest to expand your skills and knowledge.
9. Insecurity
Impostor syndrome almost undoubtedly brings with it insecurity This is related to all the aspects that we have seen so far, consisting of considering that the work one does does not have sufficient quality. To make matters worse, the feeling that things are going to be done wrong due to insecurity results in them actually being done wrong, giving rise to the phenomenon of self-fulfilling prophecy.
In other words, thinking that you are not worthy of what you do, despite being worthy, translates into a worse quality of work due to lack of motivation and the feeling of not being worthy.
