Imposter Syndrome - Is it actually a good thing?

Imposter Syndrome can really stop us in our tracks – ambitious people, conscientious people, people with real vision – they get to a certain point, they’re building momentum and then…a crisis of confidence hits:

‘I can’t do this, I don’t have the skills, the know-how, the confidence, who do I think I am!’

It's something I have experienced myself many times around new challenges, when pushing myself forward in a new direction (which I’ve done more than once!).

Also known as Imposter Phenomenon, can be defined as a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent internalised fear of being exposed as a "fraud"

It was first identified in 70s by researchers Clance and Imes. While it was initially believed to be a pattern experienced primarily by women, since then, further research has show that both men and women experience imposter syndrome… in fact, 70% of us experience Imposter Syndrome at some point in our lives! (Gravois, 2007) Have you experienced it?

It is often described as a sense of isolation, a feeling of being out of your depth and that everyone will soon find out the truth – that you’re a fraud and you don’t really know