YOU are brave enough to do this!

by Lionesses of Africa Operations Department

Imposter Syndrome. Yes that’s right, it’s time to pull back the duvet and look this thing straight in the face and call it out for what it is. In the HBR article ‘Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome’ by Ruchika Tulshyan and Jodi-Ann Burey (here) they say: “Imposter syndrome is loosely defined as doubting your abilities and feeling like a fraud. It disproportionately affects high-achieving people, who find it difficult to accept their accomplishments.” Note - ‘high-achieving people’, not high-achieving women, yet women seem to admit to it more or are allowed to own it more (‘allowed’ - you know what we’re talking about!). Yet over 70% of us have experienced this at one or more times, that’s both male and female.

Einstein: “The exaggerated esteem in which my lifework is held makes me very ill at ease. I feel compelled to think of myself as an involuntary swindler.” (here).

Richard Branson: “We all suffer from Imposter Syndrome from time to time.” (here)

Linda Hudson, former CEO of defence company BAE Systems (annual revenues a mouth-watering, gravity-defying $11.4 Billion, so not too shabby - “You Go Girl!”), from an interview in the book by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman, ‘The Confidence Code’ (here): "I think the environment is such that even in the position I am now, everyone's first impression is that I'm not qualified to do the job. When a man walks into a room, they're assumed to be competent until they prove otherwise.”

Ok, so let’s stop for a moment - for one it is not a syndrome - defined as “…a combination of medical problems that shows the existence of a particular disease or mental condition” (FT here). It has no obvious symptoms and doesn’t even affect a person’s performance (as any who has witnessed their children’s panic over pending exam results when we know they have worked sooooo hard and will perform as expected, has seen).

Even the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), “…a tome that lists mental illnesses including “hoarding disorder” and “caffeine withdrawal” [both of which we are utterly convinced we have], does not include ‘imposter syndrome’ in its 947 pages.” (FT)

Secondly, the term was first introduced in 1978 by Psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes during a study that only focused on high-achieving women. ONLY.

And so the assumption easily grew that women felt this more than men.

As the FT (again) says: “‘Imposter phenomenon’ was first described…as “an internal experience of intellectual phoniness” prevalent in the group of particularly high-achieving women they were studying. But the word “syndrome” was conspicuously absent from their paper, as was any mention of the possibility that men might experience the same feeling.”

One can imagine the academic announcement. “Having focused on high achieving women, we can confirm that not only were 100% of these actually women, but of those exhibiting ‘imposter phenomenon”, 100% of those were actually (…er) women!”  See the problem?

Indeed Clance herself was shocked at how fast this became a ‘syndrome' given they only described it as a ‘phenomenon’, yet ‘syndrome’ became the default. This was “…probably because this was easier to conceive of and categorise than some kind of internal ‘phenomenon’…”. She adds: “If I could do it all over again, I would call it the imposter experience, because it’s not a syndrome or a complex or a mental illness, it’s something almost everyone experiences.” (FT)

An experience comes and goes, but a ‘syndrome’ lives - so once again - see the problem? Still, ‘syndrome’ stuck and the rest as they say, is history.

According to Dr.Valerie Young the author of ‘The secret thoughts of successful women’ (here), and founder of the Imposter Syndrome Institute, there are five types of Imposters (here) and as always once we work out which we are, we can shine a light and recognise the signs, and step back before we get dragged into the abyss.

The Perfectionist. Focuses on ‘how’ something is done - one flaw and that’s it - failure and shame, even if all the rest is perfect.

The Expert. Focuses on ‘what’ and ‘how much’ you know. One even minor lack of knowledge in a particular area - failure and shame again!

The Soloist. Focuses on ‘who’ does the task, as you believe you can do it all on your own. Any reaching out for help? Failure and shame again.

The Natural Genius. Focus not only on ‘how’ and ‘when’, but speed is of the essence for you. How can I not understand or master this?! Is the usual cry.

The Superhuman. Look at ‘how many’ roles I can perform perfectly! This also includes all roles, a parent, a partner, friend etc etc. One of the balls in the air drops as you try to juggle…and the whole world seems to end.

Of course, we are looking at these in the cool light of day and one can be forgiven for laughing, thinking none of them apply. So here’s an easy flowchart to guide you to which you are (here). This is important because once we see and shine a light on which we are, we can recognise the warning signs and step back and admit perhaps that it is not necessarily ‘how’ something is done or by whom, but the fact it is done is the most important thing and you move one step closer to your big dream.

As Melanie wrote in one of her Good Morning Lioness blogs (here): “…there are…times when the big picture can turn into a small picture if you let it. You get so caught up in the myopic, day-to-day operational burdens that, if you are not careful, they can paralyze you.”

Obviously if having followed through on the flowchart and it seems you are none of these five types, then congratulations, you are either very happy in your life and there are indeed many of you out there, who have gone through life with the ups and downs and have realised now who you are and what you are, how you are, and are totally happy and content with that - the perfect place to be (with serious inner strength)…or you are a Narcissist (not such a perfect place to be, especially if you happened to have been listening to Michelle Obama at the Democrat National Convention, see here, and please don’t start us on her husband. Oh, ok - see here. Ouch!).

However, for the rest of us ‘mere mortals’, having seen which group we belong to, it is time to shine a light on the classic reactions certain events bring out in you such as feelings of ‘failure’ and ‘shame’ and refocus on the bigger picture, rather than the small issue that has reared up.

As Melanie continued: “At times like these, it is good to take a step back and refocus - there is a great book written by David J Schwartz, The Magic of Thinking Big, which has some useful nuggets of wisdom and advice. He says it’s important to keep reminding yourself to “See what can be, not just what is. A good starting point is to ask yourself, what am I trying to achieve? Keeping your thoughts focused on the big picture at all times can help to keep you and your business on track, no matter how challenging the road gets.” So this morning, do yourself a favour and take a few quiet moments to take a step back, look at the big picture, and remind yourself of your end goals.” 

Whilst you are doing that - why not take a moment to reaffirm your own strengths. All who watched New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (‘AOC’) on the DNC stage this week (see here her impassioned speech) will wonder how this woman does it, such strength whilst so many are trying to knock her down, but as we saw in the Netflix documentary ‘Knock down the house’, on her successful campaign to unseat a very powerful Democrat who previously controlled the Bronx, in spite of being totally sure what she is doing was right and that she was the right person for the fight, she showed her vulnerability, her feelings of being an imposter against this huge name in politics. How did she overcome this?  She drew not only strength from her friends and supporters, but most of all, just before she went into a ‘make-or-break’ debate, she reaffirmed her own inner strength with this mantra (at 1:02:00):

“I am experienced enough to do this.

I am knowledgable enough to do this.

I am prepared enough to do this.

I am mature enough to do this.

I am brave enough to do this.”

Reaffirm your own strength with this wonderful mantra that is so full of truth. Say it out loud before important meetings. Speak it when feelings of being an imposter start to wash over you.

Then take a deep breath, and head back out, but this time stronger and more prepared to fight this imposter syndrome experience. You got this.

Stay safe.