What is impostor syndrome at work?
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2025 6:17 am
How insecurity in oneself and in one's professional abilities can affect one 's job . Below we focus on the impostor syndrome , what it is exactly and how it can negatively influence one's job .
70% of people have experienced at some point the so-called ' imposter syndrome ' according to a study by the prestigious publication International Journal of Behavorial Science . Great figures such as Michelle Obama, the actress Kate Winslet or even the Nobel Prize winner for Literature Alice Munro have confessed to experiencing first-hand the ' symptoms' of what impostor syndrome is . It is thus a psychological phenomenon that can affect all types of people and this is how we address it, because of what it entails for many professionals and for human resources departments , who have to manage the situations that it entails.
First of all, it is important to define what impostor syndrome is. Author Sandi Mann, who signs the book 'The Impostor Syndrome' , hits the nail on the head when she points out that it is the "secret conviction that one is not up to par, a feeling that not only seriously undermines self-confidence and self-esteem, but can also be very detrimental to professional development." It thus affects both the work and personal spheres, in the family environment and in everyday life. What fuels it? What are the causes of impostor syndrome and how can it be managed to solve it?
What are the causes of impostor syndrome?
Behind a diagnosis that points to impostor syndrome there are jamaica whatsapp data a series of situations and beliefs, which feed off each other, added to certain personality traits. They add up to form a perfect cocktail that gives rise to that feeling of not being good enough to perform a certain task and even to play certain roles in daily life.
Professional personality. There are certain similar traits among those who tend to suffer from it and it is among the causes of impostor syndrome, people who have been asked to do a lot since childhood, at home.
Internalization of stereotypes and gender roles, this phenomenon being especially frequent among women.
Particularly demanding people.
Low self-esteem and lack of confidence.
Stressful situations or crises that have caused a loss of self-confidence.
As can be deduced, behind the impostor syndrome at work and in life, a series of personal characteristics and situations converge that end up manifesting themselves. Sometimes it occurs especially in work environments and other times it transcends to the private sphere, becoming highly disabling for those who suffer from it .
How does impostor syndrome affect work?
The consequences for those who experience impostor syndrome are several, especially the following aspects:
High dissatisfaction at work and, often, as a result, at personal level.
Lack of self-confidence, insecurity when performing tasks.
Low expectations.
Anxiety and stress when faced with new challenges/situations.
Lack of motivation in daily activities.
Fear and feelings of sadness and despair in the face of certain situations and/or certain people.
These manifestations that occur in people who are under the influence of these sensations lead to the impostor syndrome affecting them at work , in the work environment. It usually materializes in factors such as these:
Lower productivity: This is probably the main consequence and is the result of all the other consequences mentioned below. This phenomenon generates unmotivated , tired professionals with a general feeling of dissatisfaction that ends up being reflected in their jobs.
Insecurity and fear when facing decisions. In positions of responsibility, this is a particularly complex aspect.
Fatigue that leads to a lack of attention, among other things. Impostor syndrome is often accompanied by sleep disorders and this leads to the other thing.
Emotional instability and irritability in the office, which affects the health of the work environment as a whole.
Increased self-demands and perfectionism. Low self-esteem and insecurities lead to an increase in self-demands, as the person is not sure of the relevance of the actions they perform.
Isolation. Imposter syndrome is often accompanied by a decrease in social interactions in the workplace. This tendency to be alone leads to isolation and has repercussions on team collaboration and certain office dynamics.
This psychological phenomenon is often closely related to another of the great problems of 21st century professionals, ' burnout syndrome ', or exhaustion at work. This dissatisfaction, which is often one of the effects and causes of impostor syndrome, leads those who experience it to be 'burned out' in the office, so it is essential that it is identified in time and that help measures are put in place by human resources departments.
How to manage impostor syndrome from HR?
Imposter syndrome is particularly prevalent at work , which is why it is important that HR strategies include actions aimed at, on the one hand, identifying emotional states of professionals such as this and, on the other, how to address them in order to respond and improve employee well-being. In training programs such as the one from EAE Barcelona, specialized in this field, the Master in Human Resources , this and other phenomena that could affect staff are addressed.
Regarding the specific approach in this case that we are dealing with, in relation to what impostor syndrome is and how to treat it in the work environment , there are several key indications:
70% of people have experienced at some point the so-called ' imposter syndrome ' according to a study by the prestigious publication International Journal of Behavorial Science . Great figures such as Michelle Obama, the actress Kate Winslet or even the Nobel Prize winner for Literature Alice Munro have confessed to experiencing first-hand the ' symptoms' of what impostor syndrome is . It is thus a psychological phenomenon that can affect all types of people and this is how we address it, because of what it entails for many professionals and for human resources departments , who have to manage the situations that it entails.
First of all, it is important to define what impostor syndrome is. Author Sandi Mann, who signs the book 'The Impostor Syndrome' , hits the nail on the head when she points out that it is the "secret conviction that one is not up to par, a feeling that not only seriously undermines self-confidence and self-esteem, but can also be very detrimental to professional development." It thus affects both the work and personal spheres, in the family environment and in everyday life. What fuels it? What are the causes of impostor syndrome and how can it be managed to solve it?
What are the causes of impostor syndrome?
Behind a diagnosis that points to impostor syndrome there are jamaica whatsapp data a series of situations and beliefs, which feed off each other, added to certain personality traits. They add up to form a perfect cocktail that gives rise to that feeling of not being good enough to perform a certain task and even to play certain roles in daily life.
Professional personality. There are certain similar traits among those who tend to suffer from it and it is among the causes of impostor syndrome, people who have been asked to do a lot since childhood, at home.
Internalization of stereotypes and gender roles, this phenomenon being especially frequent among women.
Particularly demanding people.
Low self-esteem and lack of confidence.
Stressful situations or crises that have caused a loss of self-confidence.
As can be deduced, behind the impostor syndrome at work and in life, a series of personal characteristics and situations converge that end up manifesting themselves. Sometimes it occurs especially in work environments and other times it transcends to the private sphere, becoming highly disabling for those who suffer from it .
How does impostor syndrome affect work?
The consequences for those who experience impostor syndrome are several, especially the following aspects:
High dissatisfaction at work and, often, as a result, at personal level.
Lack of self-confidence, insecurity when performing tasks.
Low expectations.
Anxiety and stress when faced with new challenges/situations.
Lack of motivation in daily activities.
Fear and feelings of sadness and despair in the face of certain situations and/or certain people.
These manifestations that occur in people who are under the influence of these sensations lead to the impostor syndrome affecting them at work , in the work environment. It usually materializes in factors such as these:
Lower productivity: This is probably the main consequence and is the result of all the other consequences mentioned below. This phenomenon generates unmotivated , tired professionals with a general feeling of dissatisfaction that ends up being reflected in their jobs.
Insecurity and fear when facing decisions. In positions of responsibility, this is a particularly complex aspect.
Fatigue that leads to a lack of attention, among other things. Impostor syndrome is often accompanied by sleep disorders and this leads to the other thing.
Emotional instability and irritability in the office, which affects the health of the work environment as a whole.
Increased self-demands and perfectionism. Low self-esteem and insecurities lead to an increase in self-demands, as the person is not sure of the relevance of the actions they perform.
Isolation. Imposter syndrome is often accompanied by a decrease in social interactions in the workplace. This tendency to be alone leads to isolation and has repercussions on team collaboration and certain office dynamics.
This psychological phenomenon is often closely related to another of the great problems of 21st century professionals, ' burnout syndrome ', or exhaustion at work. This dissatisfaction, which is often one of the effects and causes of impostor syndrome, leads those who experience it to be 'burned out' in the office, so it is essential that it is identified in time and that help measures are put in place by human resources departments.
How to manage impostor syndrome from HR?
Imposter syndrome is particularly prevalent at work , which is why it is important that HR strategies include actions aimed at, on the one hand, identifying emotional states of professionals such as this and, on the other, how to address them in order to respond and improve employee well-being. In training programs such as the one from EAE Barcelona, specialized in this field, the Master in Human Resources , this and other phenomena that could affect staff are addressed.
Regarding the specific approach in this case that we are dealing with, in relation to what impostor syndrome is and how to treat it in the work environment , there are several key indications: