Imposter syndrome is the false internal belief that you are not as capable as other people perceive you to be. It also means you have a challenge internalizing your success and attribute to it other factors such as luck or assistance from someone.

People who experience imposter syndrome have doubtful and negative self-talk and may have thoughts such as:

• I am fooling everyone
• I don’t belong in this place
• I am a fraud, and everyone will soon find out
• How can I think that I can do it?

Everyone can doubt their abilities occasionally, but people with imposter syndrome are often high achievers and have a reasonable amount of experience in their field. Despite this, they usually have feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy.

To help you find out whether you have imposter syndrome, this article will look at the types and causes and recommend what to do about it.

The Five Types of Imposter Syndrome

Dr. Pauline Rose Clance and Dr. Suzanne Imes were the first to identify and categorize imposter syndrome in 1978. Over the years, other psychologists have refined and expanded their work to develop the following five types of imposter syndrome.

The Soloist

If you are a soloist, you believe you should be able to handle all tasks on your own. When you fail to meet your goal, you feel you are not worthy of recognition. You also view asking for help as a sign of weakness and refuse assistance.

The Perfectionist

This person focuses on how they perform tasks and handle everyday life to a point where they demand perfection for themselves. If you are a perfectionist, you are also driven by the fear of failure and worry that a minor mistake will reveal your incompetence.

Related: Why Perfectionism Is Not A Trait To Be Proud Of

The Expert

The expert is the individual who must know every detail of a task before they perform it. Their fear is that they might be caught off-guard and will not have all the answers. The expert tends to procrastinate because they have to gather endless information.

The Natural Genius

If you have this imposter syndrome, you tend to believe that competent individuals can handle almost anything with little difficulty. Hence, if you struggle to perform a new or challenging task, you feel like a fraud. You will then avoid taking on challenges that might reveal your limitations.

The SuperPerson

A person who has the need to excel in all areas of their lives may have this imposter syndrome if they feel guilty for perceived shortcomings. To succeed, they must push themselves to the limit and use excess energy in every role they acquire in life.

What Causes Imposter Syndrome

In the past, imposter syndrome was attributed to family dynamics, gender stereotypes, and mental health disorders. But with more research done over the years, imposter syndrome has been found to affect people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. While the causes vary from person to person, the following are the leading causes of imposter syndrome.

• Upbringing and childhood experiences: A parent or guardian’s expectations while growing up may affect your beliefs about your abilities and self-perception.
• Constant criticism and negative feedback: Receiving endless criticism at work or in other areas you value can result in reduced self-confidence and feelings of inadequacy.
• Starting a new role or transitioning: Self-doubt may be triggered when you start a new job or join college because you question whether you can hack it.
• Personality type: Certain personality types have characteristics that make some people prone to imposter syndrome.
• History of Social Anxiety: If you often fear being in a public setup, you may have a form of imposter syndrome. People with social anxiety often believe they don’t belong in a particular social or performance gathering.

What to Do About Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome prevents people from reaching their full potential and leads to others acquiring mental health conditions. To avoid this from happening to you, the following are steps you can take to address imposter syndrome:

• Acknowledge and accept that you have feelings of self-doubt, which may not be an accurate assessment of your abilities.
• Pay attention to the negative self-talk and thought patterns, write them down, and challenge their accuracy.
• Recognize and celebrate your achievements no matter how small you may think they are.
• Reframe your belief in failure and see it as an opportunity for more growth than a confirmation of your inadequacies.
• Seek constructive feedback from your mentor, relatable boss, peers, and colleagues.
• Talk about the feelings of imposter syndrome with your friends, family members, or mentors. If you find it hard to talk to people you know, look for an experienced counselor.

At Clarity Counseling and Training Centre, we have expert counselors Nairobi has to offer, who are committed to helping our clients address and overcome imposter syndrome. Get in touch with us, and let us help you change the deep-seated thought patterns that prevent you from achieving your life goals.