Ever walked into a room, sat down at your desk, or started a project and thought, “What am I even doing here?” If so, you’re not alone.
That sinking feeling that you’re out of your depth, that you don’t belong, or that you’re just waiting for someone to figure out you’re a fraud is called imposter syndrome. And it’s way more common than you might think. In this blog, we’re going to explore practical ways to overcome these feelings and ensure they don’t stop you from reaching your full potential.
What is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter Syndrome is a common challenge for many professionals, and unfortunately Black and ethnic minority leaders often face additional hurdles that make it even harder. According to Google, Imposter Syndrome is defined as:
“A feeling of inadequacy that persists despite evidence of success.”
To put that in simpler terms, it means feeling like you’re not good enough or that you’re pretending to be successful, even though there’s clear proof of your achievements. It’s an ongoing sense of self-doubt, even when you’ve accomplished things that show you’re truly capable and skilled.
Types of Imposter Syndrome
There are different types of imposter syndrome, understanding which one you relate to can help you target your coping strategies:
- Perfectionist: Believing that one must be flawless to be successful. This can lead to procrastination, avoidance of challenges, and burnout.
- Expert: Feeling like you need to know everything to be competent. This can hinder learning and growth, as individuals may be reluctant to admit knowledge gaps.
- Superwoman/Superman: Trying to do everything yourself without asking for help. This can lead to overwhelm, burnout, and missed opportunities for collaboration.
- Soloist: Thinking you must achieve everything alone to be valuable. This can hinder teamwork and prevent individuals from seeking support or feedback.
- Fraud: Believing that one’s success is due to luck or deception rather than genuine ability. This can lead to self-doubt, fear of failure, and difficulty accepting compliments.
Imposter Syndrome and Being Black or an Ethnic Minority
For individuals from Black or ethnic minority backgrounds, imposter syndrome can be intensified by additional challenges:
- Stereotype threat: The fear of confirming negative stereotypes about one’s group.
- Underrepresentation: Feeling isolated and like an outsider in predominantly white environments.
- Microaggressions: Experiencing subtle forms of discrimination that can erode self-confidence.
- The need to prove oneself: Feeling constant pressure to outperform peers to gain credibility.
Why do we feel like Imposters?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here. Imposter syndrome can come from a variety of sources. For people from ethnically diverse backgrounds, it can be magnified by the additional burden of proving yourself in environments where you might be one of the few, if not the only, Black professional in the room.
Sometimes, it’s the comparison trap—looking around and seeing others who seem more confident, more accomplished, or just more “together” than you. But the truth is they probably feel the same way sometimes, too.
