The document discusses the imposter syndrome, which is a psychological pattern experienced by high-achieving individuals who are prone to doubting their accomplishments and have a persistent fear of being exposed as a "fraud". This syndrome affects many successful women who often feel they did not earn their status through genuine ability. Common symptoms include feeling like a fraud, deep self-doubt, and fearing that others will discover their perceived lack of qualifications. The document explores factors that can contribute to imposter syndrome in women such as gender socialization patterns and stereotyping. Suggestions for addressing this syndrome include recognizing one's own accomplishments, seeking support, and learning to accept mistakes as opportunities for growth.

1. The
Imposter
Syndrome
When Successful
Women Feel Like
Frauds

2. Definition
 The psychological experience of believing
that one’s accomplishments came about
not through genuine ability, but as a result
of having been lucky, having worked
harder than others, or having
manipulated other people’s impressions,
has been labeled the impostor
phenomenon

3. “I’m a fraud, they’re onto me!” -Tina
Fey, popular actress and awards host
“They must be speaking directly to me…” -
Sherly Sandberg, Facebook COO and
author of “Lean in” while attending Harvard
speech on “Feeling Like a Fraud”
“I’m always looking over my
shoulder, wondering if I measure up.” –
Sonia Sotmayor while attending Princeton

4. The Imposter Syndrome
 Term was keyed in 1978 by psychologist
Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes .
 Valerie Young, Ed.D, author of “The Secret
Thoughts of Successful Women” says little
has changed in three decades since.
 Even more susceptible now that ever.

5. Symptoms
 Faking it
 Imposter
 Was just lucky
 Can’t internalize successes
 High levels of self-doubt
 Deep level of inauthenticity
 Just fooling everyone
 Fear of exposure

6. Keep in Mind-
 It is not perceived to be a psychological
disorder among people, but it has been
the topic of research for many
psychologists.
 Evidence gathered from research does
not support the idea that this syndrome is
a distinct personality trait, but certain
people are more prone to impostor
feelings.

7. Gender Differences
 Boys are taught to bluff and exaggerate
 Girls are taught to not trust their opinions
and stifle their voices.
 How does this impact the growth patter of
self-esteem?

8. Susan Pinker
 Author of “The Sexual Paradox, the Real
Gender Gap” Discusses the fraud
syndrome:
“…it is purely limited to successful women;
successful men apparently never feel like
they are frauds.

9. Costs to Companies
"The cost to their companies in terms of
unrealized human potential can be
enormous. … When qualified workers fear
risks, get caught in the 'expert trap' and are
prone to perfectionism and procrastination,
there's a leak in the corporation's human
resources pool.

10. Career Choice Impacts
 In male-dominated fields women are
more vulnerable to feeling like frauds.
 Often women in technical fields specialize
later-on in their lives in their field of choice.
 Work allowed to spill less into personal life.
 May be only woman on team.
“I must have fooled them..”

11. The Gender Gap
 Males are more likely to blame outside
influences where women are more likely
to blame themselves.
 Women, when surveyed, believed that
their performance directly reflects on their
female peers.
 Women believed their were being
watched more closely on performance
than men did.

12. Biggest Impact
 Its not discrimination, but…
Stereotyping, which is evident
from both genders and not just from older
age groups.

13. Cumulative Effect
 Holding Back
 Over working
 Giving up
 Procrastinating
 Taking criticism too personally
 Qualifying contributions

14. Perfect Matches?
 The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive
bias in which unskilled individuals suffer
from illusory superiority, mistakenly rating
their ability much higher than average.
This bias is attributed to a metacognitive
inability of the unskilled to recognize their
mistakes.

15. Theories
 Special Minority Programs may add to
feelings of inadequacy- “I was only hired
because I was black/female/etc.”
instead of recognizing that the person
was hired for their skills.

16. Never Let Them See You
Sweat
 Or make a mistake.
 Or be less than in your best condition.
 Or perform less than perfect.
 Or take the best path in life.
 Or accomplish twice as much as anyone
else in ½ the time….

17. Small Talk
 "This may not be right, but…"
 “I don’t know if I should add this, but”
 "Anyone could have done it"
 “I didn’t provide much.“
 “I’m sure you can find someone more
qualified than me.”

18. Worry, Worry and Worry
 dismissive attitude when praised .
 feeling that peers with the same
responsibilities are more capable.
 reluctance to accept new responsibilities
or challenges for fear of failure .
 difficult reaction to constructive criticism.
 worrying that others will begin to realize
their shortcomings.

19. Recognition
 Your contributions matter.
 Your skills are important.
 It’s alright to make mistakes- the
importance is to learn from them.
 Surround yourself with supportive
individuals.
 Stop asking for permission.

20. Ways of Addressing
 Taking risks or completing tasks that are
undesirable can help address fear of
failure.
 Ask oneself directly what in the past or
childhood may make one feel
inadequate.
 Its not a mistake the first time, it’s
experience.

21. When it happens…
 When having a direct comparison, look
honestly at your accomplishments and
establish if you aren’t acknowledging your
own.
 Actively recognize and avoid negative or
destructive thoughts, (imposter syndrome).
 Recognize negativity in others that may
impact your ability to see your contributions.

22. How to Stop it…
 Chalk it up to a lessons learned, (not a
mistake..)
 Be kinder to yourself. We are our worst
critics.
 Seek Support from mentors and others
that can offer you an honest view.
 Visualize your success!

23. Final Thought…
 “ A successful man is one who can lay a
firm foundation with the bricks that others
throw at him. ”
— Sidney Greenberg
Women need to recognize this more… 

24. References
 http://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudr
eau/2011/10/19/women-feel-like-frauds-
failures-tina-fey-sheryl-sandberg/
 http://www.forbes.com/2010/02/22/impos
ter-syndrome-professional-fraud-forbes-
woman-leadership-psychology.html
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impostor_syn
drome