When impostor syndrome strikes, it’s time to shift your perspective

I’ve just returned from speaking at TEDx Ocala. It was a rich, rewarding experience. There were 13 speakers — a varied group of people talking about a wide range of topics.

For me, one of the most thought-provoking talks was delivered by R.J. Jenkins, an educator and veterans advocate. R.J. started by describing himself as a blue-collar kid who landed in Columbia University feeling utterly out of place. Even though he was very bright, he was culturally quite different from his fellow students, and he knew it.

Impostor syndrome: Real but not rational

R.J.’s situation was a classic recipe for “impostor syndrome.” We’ve all read about it and experienced it — self-doubt about your skills or accomplishments and a fear of being exposed as a fraud, even when external evidence indicates that you are highly competent. As a coach, I have often talked with clients about it.

Here’s the thing — R.J. has a very different take on it. First, he pointed out that the 1978 article introducing this concept, “The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention,” labeled it a “phenomenon,” not a syndrome. Syndrome is a medical term; it means a group of symptoms that consistently occur together.

By switching to medical terminology, feeling like an impostor became a problem that required treatment. If you Google “impostor syndrome,” you’ll find a bunch of articles for how to fix it. As R.J. put it, impostor syndrome has come to mean that something about you is broken. But it’s not.

Feel like a phony? Try to rethink it

Let’s consider his brilliant reframing of this notion. When are you likely to feel like an impostor? When you’re doing something you’ve done a hundred times before? NO. Impostor feelings arise when you are pushing yourself out of your comfort zone, doing new things, taking risks. So, when you find yourself feeling like an impostor, congratulations! That means you’re reaching and stretching and taking chances that accelerate your growth.

I love this! The next time a client tells me they are feeling like an impostor, I’m going to cheer for them. The next time I feel like an impostor, I’m going to pat myself on the back.

Impostor syndrome? Phooey! Like the ache you feel after you have exercised hard, the impostor phenomenon tells you that you’re pushing yourself to new heights. Thanks, R.J.

More TEDx info ahead

R.J.’s TEDx speech (and mine) will be posted online later this month. I’ll let you know when these talks are available — be sure to check out his too.

If you’d like to learn more about pushing out of your comfort zone, contact me at ggolden@gailgoldenconsulting.com.