Charles Darwin, known for his groundbreaking work, once penned:
“But I am very poorly today & very stupid & hate everybody & everything…”
Was this a moment of despair, or was he, like many of us, grappling with Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter Syndrome is a feeling of doubt that we aren't as capable as others perceive us to be, that our accomplishments are mere flukes waiting to be exposed. The phenomenon was identified in 1978 by psychologists Drs. Pauline R. Clance and Suzanne A. Imes.
Is anyone immune? Perhaps not even giants like Darwin or Albert Einstein, who admitted:
"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.”
Studies (links below) show that 7 out of 10 people experience imposter syndrome. Other studies suggest that diverse people who battle systemic ageism, sexism, and racism have a higher chance of suffering from it. Perhaps we think that the world is somehow run perfectly by groups of people who magically know more than us.
My personal encounter with this deceptive internal narrative happened when presenting my early projects at Dolby Studios. Whispering to a friend, “they’re going to find out!,” I was startled by my own readiness to discredit my work.
So what is the cost of this self-talk? Low morale, burnout, poor performance, stunted potential, high turnover, and even financial losses for companies that fail to instill a culture of mentoring and encouragement. This isn’t just an individual problem. It's an organizational one, impacting everyone involved.
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome is no small feat. There are numerous resources, like Aparna Nancherla's Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself, and Impostor Syndrome.
And here’s my quick tip #1 for employers:
Recognize the value in uplifting your team. Integrate morale-boosting support into your company’s ethos to prevent talent stagnation and financial setbacks.
And for everyone else:
Recognize that everyone, including those in positions of power, is imperfect, perhaps even fighting their own battles with imposter syndrome. Know that you are enough, if not more.
Claim your space. Be unapologetically brilliant. Shift the narrative and shine your light without seeking external validation or permission.
The world doesn’t just need you. It also needs you to believe in yourself.
There’s also this audiobook, The Imposter Cure: Escape the Mind-Trap of Imposter Syndrome, if you’d rather listen to audiobooks (you can get a FREE one by trying Audible for FREE for 30 days.)
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Citations and useful links:
The Correspondence of Charles Darwin, Volume 9
When Charles Darwin Hated Everybody
Coping with Imposter Syndrome in Academia and Research
Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome
Imposter Syndrome: The Truth About Feeling Like a Fake
Seven in 10 workers experiencing burnout or imposter syndrome, research finds