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5 types of imposter syndrome

SONIA VITIELLO| the 30th of October 2022

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What is the imposter syndrome?

  • The feeling of inadequacy felt by many professionals

  • Despite the success, we feel not enough for that achievement

  • Every achievement sounds like pure luck, nothing related to our hard work and skills.

Who is affected?

Every creative person is the target

 

This doesn't hit only those who are working, but mostly those who are seeking a job.

 

Who is looking for a job doesn't feel to be right for any new opportunity.

Rejection is one of the main fears faced by creatives and that's what stops them.

There are 5 types of imposter syndrome.

1) THE PERFECTIONIST

Image by Milad Fakurian

Imposter syndrome occurs not only in insecure people but also in those who want their job to be perfect.

 

Perfectionists set a near-impossible goal to achieve.

The not-expected results burn them down, punishing their creativity.

 

​How to overcome the perfectionism imposter syndrome?

 

  • Give yourself credit when it's due and stop dwelling on your failures

 

  • See your failures as a lesson, not as proof of your incompetence

2) THE SUPERWOMAN

Image by Miguel Bruna

​If you are overdoing it to prove your talent, you are our "superwoman"

You are always thinking and talking about work, I gotcha!

​

How to control the superwoman imposter syndrome?

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  • Know and recognize your value, you have lots of them. Write it down if needed.

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  • Take a break, and take care of yourself. To better function at work, we need a break.

3) THE NATURAL GENIUS

Image by Enric Moreu

​​

​If doing something requires effort, you feel they are not good enough for it.

That's what the natural genius thinks and how the imposter syndrome hit you.

 

You don't accept help from others.

You don't want to learn new things because scared of failure.

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How to control the natural genius imposter syndrome?

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  • Recognize that success requires effort. 

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  • Bear in mind that you can't be great at everything

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  • See challenges as a learning opportunity and improve our personality.

4) THE RUGGED INDIVIDUALIST

Image by Saad Chaudhry

Asking for help sounds like a sign of weakness for the rugged individualist.

You are afraid of falling victim to fraud and don't ask for help.

 

How to overcome the rugged individualist imposter syndrome?

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  • Understanding that asking for help can be the solution to the problem

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  • Asking for help can make life easy: less struggle and less feeling of failure

5) THE EXPERT

Image by hesam Link

The expert is not an expert anymore and that's why you don't apply for a job.

 

Not having all the required skills makes you feel that you are not the right match for a job position.

 

You boycott yourself, You doubt that you can learn, and you don't even prove to yourself what you are capable of.  You give up without even trying if you are not an expert.

​

How to overcome the expert imposter syndrome?

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  • Understanding that skill gaps are normal

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  • Focus on the skills you already have, think deeply, and write them down. 

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  • Plan to learn more

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  • Note your success

Key takeaways​

​Beating the imposter syndrome requires serious introspection and reflection.

Feedback from others and personality assessment can also help.

The more you understand yourself, what are your skills, your strenght point, and your self-worth, the better steps you will take to increase your confidence and performance while beating the demons in your head.

Do you know other imposter syndrome types? 
Do you know how to help yourself and others overcome that and be more productive and successful?

Feel free to drop me a message and let's discuss it together 👩‍💻

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