I have been thinking about this recently. What IF imposter syndrome is just an indication of a skill deficit?

2 Comments

1. Kimberley Ferretti HammettJanuary 17,2025 at 3:04PM UTC

   Yes, these are definitely possible explanations for these common struggles! That first one was a big lesson for me when the clock ran out on me and I was laid off of my corporate role before I landed any of the promotions I was applying for. The last one I presented for I didn't get because I was presenting "on a higher level" than what the role needed and the hiring Director, who I worked with almost daily, seemed shocked by how well I presented. I remember thinking "why are you shocked!?" and it took some reflection to realize that because my role touched so many directors on a small scale, none of them saw the full scope of what I was putting out. It wasn't enough to say I "helped" with a project they never even saw. If I wanted them to recognize my talent was well beyond the title of my role, I needed to advocate for myself and show them what I could do. That doesn't come naturally for me because it feels like bragging, but I've learned to approach it as I may have value to add and they won't get to make that decision if they don't know it's available to them.

   Thank you for sharing this!

2. Elizabyth HarringtonJanuary 19,2025 at 5:12PM UTC

   Imposter Syndrome is a deep-rooted fear about one's ability to do a job (usually because of a general insecurity of oneself) even while possessing all the education, experience and skills needed to perform the job. It's different from a skill deficit and also doesn't have anything to do with knowing whether one is making meaningful contributions.