The Imposter Syndrome-Explaining away success
Women who suffer from the imposter syndrome are experts at explaining away their success. They discount and dismiss their own achievements. Here are some ways that you may be discounting your own success.
1.Luck- Have you found yourself saying, "I just got lucky that's all." Or "It was the luck of the draw". There is a famous saying about Luck- Luck is when preparation and opportunity meet. Even situations that are commonly called pure luck such as winning the lottery has some preparation involved. You have to buy a lottery ticket to play. I'm not suggesting you start playing the lottery because let's face it the odds are not very good. But Luck is often just when hard work and preparation finally meet opportunity.
2.Timing- This is a close cousin to luck. Women who dismiss their success away using timing may find themselves saying, "I was just in the right place and the right time." Timing may give a little help to your success, but for those suffering from the imposter syndrome; timing is the only reason for their success.
3.Personality and humor- "They just liked me!" is a common belief of those women who feel they are not truly deserving of their success. Using personality and humor as a rationalization for success, requires that you work hard at keeping people entertained so they won't notice your incompetence.
4.The Simplicity of the task- Many imposters feel a direct link between the simplicity of the task and the amount of credit your willing to give yourself. "It was so easy anyone could have done it." Is a frequent statement by imposters using this way of dismissing their accomplishments.
5. Low Standards- Imposters never seem able to feel worthy of certain positions, institutions or organizations. They commonly discredit any organization that accepts them as a member…"if they let me in they must really have low standards!"
6.Other people- Imposters often give the reasons for their success to the efforts of other people. "They felt sorry for me", or "they were just being nice" or" I knew someone and that is why I got the job." Sure knowing someone helps get an interview, but most employers won't just hire someone on a shoe string. There must be some other reason why you were hired. It might actually mean you are qualified for the job!
These are just some of the ways that imposters dismiss or discount their own success. Dr. Valerie Young has written a workbook about the imposter syndrome. You can visit her website at http://www.impostorsyndrome.c
1.Luck- Have you found yourself saying, "I just got lucky that's all." Or "It was the luck of the draw". There is a famous saying about Luck- Luck is when preparation and opportunity meet. Even situations that are commonly called pure luck such as winning the lottery has some preparation involved. You have to buy a lottery ticket to play. I'm not suggesting you start playing the lottery because let's face it the odds are not very good. But Luck is often just when hard work and preparation finally meet opportunity.
2.Timing- This is a close cousin to luck. Women who dismiss their success away using timing may find themselves saying, "I was just in the right place and the right time." Timing may give a little help to your success, but for those suffering from the imposter syndrome; timing is the only reason for their success.
3.Personality and humor- "They just liked me!" is a common belief of those women who feel they are not truly deserving of their success. Using personality and humor as a rationalization for success, requires that you work hard at keeping people entertained so they won't notice your incompetence.
4.The Simplicity of the task- Many imposters feel a direct link between the simplicity of the task and the amount of credit your willing to give yourself. "It was so easy anyone could have done it." Is a frequent statement by imposters using this way of dismissing their accomplishments.
5. Low Standards- Imposters never seem able to feel worthy of certain positions, institutions or organizations. They commonly discredit any organization that accepts them as a member…"if they let me in they must really have low standards!"
6.Other people- Imposters often give the reasons for their success to the efforts of other people. "They felt sorry for me", or "they were just being nice" or" I knew someone and that is why I got the job." Sure knowing someone helps get an interview, but most employers won't just hire someone on a shoe string. There must be some other reason why you were hired. It might actually mean you are qualified for the job!
These are just some of the ways that imposters dismiss or discount their own success. Dr. Valerie Young has written a workbook about the imposter syndrome. You can visit her website at http://www.impostorsyndrome.c
posted by Maureen Fannin | 7:40 AM
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