What Does Imposter Syndrome Really Mean?

When speaking to successful people, it can be very surprising to hear that they often doubt themselves and even feel out of place in their present circumstances.  These can be some of the top people in their fields who have achieved incredible things and yet they sometimes ask themselves if they really belong where they are.

They literally feel like they are an imposter and that they don’t fit in.  This has come to be known as Imposter Syndrome.

There are two interpretations for imposter syndrome, even at the highest levels of achievement.

The first one is the more widely accepted explanation:  that even high achievers can suffer from a lack of self-confidence.  Especially if they are self made successes, achievers often remember their struggles and have a hard time believing that they have made such huge strides and are no longer the person they worked so hard to improve.

It actually makes sense that they would feel this way particularly if they struggled against very difficult circumstances because they were probably told many times that they would never amount to anything.  Even after having become incredibly successful, it can be very difficult to forget those negative statements that they heard so often for so long.

There is a way to deal with this that can help.  It is simply to remember all of the struggles and then to remember all of the successes achieved from those struggles and to be thankful for everything that has been achieved.  Reflecting on our successes is a very powerful way to replace a lack of self confidence with unstoppable confidence.

The second interpretation for imposter syndrome among achievers is much more interesting and positive.  Very often it is an expression of ambition.  This is particularly noticeable when in a group of achievers who are all taking about their future plans and goals.  Imposter syndrome is more about what has not been achieved yet because they feel that they have not lived up to their potential but plan to.  They want to accomplish much more than they have so far and like to associate with other doers who have the humility to know that they have much work to do even if they have accomplished so much so far.

They also like to associate with these types so that they can share what works, something that is hard to do with people who have not achieved as much but who may have opinions on how to do things. 

When seen from this view, imposter syndrome can be turned into a positive tool that can be used to associate with other achievers whether in informal meetings, at parties or in masterminds specifically set up to discuss business practices.  It then becomes less about not belonging and more about what more they are going to achieve in addition to the successes they have already had.