What type of Impostor Syndrome do you have?
What type of Impostor Syndrome do you have?
We know Impostor Syndrome is prevalent in entrepreneurs, and we’ve delved into some of the personal experiences of entrepreneurs and looked at tools to help manage and combat it. But we haven't talked about the diagnosis. How do you know if you have or have previously experienced Impostor Syndrome? And more specifically what type?
Dr. Valerie Young, identifies five types in her book The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women: Why Capable People Suffer From the Imposter Syndrome and How to Thrive in Spite of It. The ‘type’ of Impostor Syndrome you experience may change over time and depending on your circumstances.
Here we share a short synopsis on each of the types, as detailed by Dr Valerie Young, along with thoughts from our entrepreneur community on what Impostor Syndrome means to them.
Type One: The Perfectionist
You set excessively high goals for yourself, and when you fail to reach a goal it triggers major self-doubt and fear of not being good enough.
Common traits are difficulty in delegating and micromanaging.
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"Even yesterday I wasn't feeling myself, like 'oh I'm not doing this properly', an agenda item went wrong, and I felt 'urgh you don't know what you're doing, you shouldn't be in this place', it was the imposter syndrome behaviour. The way I am dealing with it is to open up about it."
Type Two: The Superwoman/man
You’re convinced that you don't measure up to your colleagues and so overcompensate by working harder and harder to prove this is untrue. You're addicted to the validation that comes from working, not to the work itself.
Common traits include feeling stressed when you’re not working and staying later at the office/desk than you need to.
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“I am glad we’re discussing imposter syndrome, as I have some mixed feelings about how it has been used in the spaces I am part of (mostly North American tech industry). When it comes to my personal experience as an entrepreneur, the whole journey is about pushing beyond your comfort zone and so naturally there will be some feelings of uncertainty when you’re in these uncharted territories. On the other hand, I have heard from many female friends of mine who work in tech that they prefer not to use the term because it reinforces that they shouldn’t feel like they belong where they are. I don’t know what the right answer is here but I think that it’s important to talk about the multiple ways in which it can be interpreted and experienced by different individuals.”
Type Three: The Natural Genius
You believe ‘genius’ comes naturally to people, so if it takes you time to master something, or dont get it right the first time, it makes you feel ashamed.
Common traits are being told you were the ‘smart one’ when you were young and avoiding challenges because it’s not something you’re good at.
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"I carry a deep sense and knowledge of my value not being based off of what I can do or offer the marketplace or even the relationships in and around me (wife, daughter, friends, church). My value comes from being deeply loved by God and others just because they love me. Again, not love me because of what I can offer. It is this deep love that I experience that lets me know that it is ok that I am not hyper competent in my role as CEO."
Type Four: The Soloist
You believe asking for help shows your incompetence and weakness.
Common traits include not asking for help and trying to accomplish projects and goals by yourself.
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“The good thing about impostor syndrome is that others don’t see you as an impostor. They see the qualified, accomplished person that you are, and they know why you deserve to be there.”
Type Five: The Expert
You believe you will never know enough to master your subject or expertise and are fearful for being exposed as inexperienced or unknowledgeable.
Common traits can include feeling embarrassed at being referred to as an ‘expert’, constantly looking for additional training or certifications to succeed and avoiding applying for roles unless you meet the entire requirements.
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“I do often ask myself the question though, how much of it is self-imposed and how much is in the design of the environment I am in?”
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