Impostor Syndrome When Getting Promoted

Impostor syndrome is a feeling of inadequacy. It is the sense that you are not qualified or talented enough to do your job. In many cases it’s a feeling that you can’t live up to the expectations of a job because you are a fraud. It was first identified by Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes in a paper in 1978. At first they thought it only affected women but further research indicates it affects people no matter their gender.

While affecting everyone slightly differently, Valerie Young has identified a few patterns that people tend to fall into with impostor syndrome. The perfectionist sets very high standards for themselves and if they don’t meet them feels like a failure. The expert feels like they should know every little thing before being competent. A person who is naturally gifted will feel inadequate if they struggle to learn or do something. The soloist feel that they have to do everything on their own, they are a fraud for asking for help. Finally the superhuman will push themselves harder than their coworkers to prove they are not an impostor.

Typically impostor syndrome rears itself when a person is put into novel situations or given more difficult tasks than normal. For most of us some of the most stressful times in our careers comes with celebration. We get promoted then have to take on new duties and responsibilities. This can lead to stress, anxiety, and impostor syndrome.

Impostor syndrome is something that we all face at one time or another in our careers. Many of us face it several times as we move up the ladder. This is not a comprehensive list of fears or concerns. They are the ones that we have heard about from others or have faced during our careers. If you have other concerns or questions about moving up in your career leave us a comment or send us an email about it.