Impostor syndrome is a psychological pattern where one doubts their accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud". It affects 70% of people to some degree. Common effects include not applying for promotions due to a lack of confidence in one's qualifications despite successes. To address impostor syndrome, one should recognize its existence, own their achievements instead of attributing them to luck, focus on the value they provide, stop social comparisons, embrace positive feedback, take risks outside their comfort zone, and accept that no one knows everything.

1. We need to talk about
Impostor Syndrome
Or how to defeat your inside enemy
Emanuele Spies

3. Impostor... WHAT?

4. Impostor... WHAT?
• Impostor syndrome can be defined as a collection of
feelings of inadequacy.
• It is experienced internally as chronic self-doubt, and
feelings of intellectual fraudulence.
• 70% of people feel this way, according to a study in
the International Journal of Behavioral Science.
It is basically a feeling
that you are not really
a successful, smart
and competent. That
you are only imposing
as such.
“

5. Effects of Impostor
Syndrome

7. Effects of Impostor Syndrome
Anyone experiencing impostor syndrome may be less willing to put themselves forward, feeling
that they are not qualified, for example:
– not applying for jobs, promotions, and other employment opportunities;
– not submitting papers to conferences or journals;
– disclaiming or understating their experience/skill when speaking or writing;
– nervousness about talking to others in their field, especially if those others are perceived as highly
skilled/experienced;
– feeling like a fraud;
– worrying that someone will find out their lack of qualifications and fire them;
– having higher stress;
– overpreparing for tasks;
– attributing successes to chance or luck;

8. Effects of Impostor Syndrome
The impostor feelings can be divided into three sub categories.
Categories Tendency Normally say
Feeling like a fake
To believe that one does not
deserve his or her success or
professional position and that
somehow other have been
deceived into thinking otherwise
"I can give the impression that I
am more competent than I really
am"
"I am often afraid that others will
discover how much knowledge I
really lack"
Attributing success to luck
To attribute success to luck or to
other external reasons and not to
your own internal abilities.
"I just got lucky this time"
"it was a fluke"
Discounting success
To downplay success and
discount it.
“It is not a big deal"
“It was not important"

9. Effects of Impostor Syndrome
Reality
The Impostor Syndrome

10. Huh. Nice.
So now what can you do about it?

11. What can you do about it?
FAKE
‘TIL YOU
MAKE
BECOME IT
• Recognize that it exists;
• Own your achievements, don’t attribute your successes to luck;
• Focus on the value you provide;
• Comparisons suck, so stop using them;
• Keep a record of the nice things people say about you and
embrace the positive feedbacks with objectivity and internalize it.
• Don’t talk about your abilities or successes with words like
"merely," "only," "simply," etc. Be confident!
• Take risks, and get our of your comfort zone;
• Remember that it’s okay to seek help from others, and that even
the best do it.
• Accept the fact that there are things that you do not know,
there are things that you will never know and there are things
that you can decide to learn.

12. Our bodies change our minds
and our minds can change our behavior,
and our behavior can change our outcomes.

14. References

15. References
• https://counseling.caltech.edu/general/InfoandResources/Impostor
• http://startupbros.com/21-ways-overcome-impostor-syndrome/
• http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Impostor_syndrome
• http://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2013/11/fraud.aspx
• http://mentalfloss.com/article/75699/what-imposter-syndrome-and-what-can-you-do-about-it
• http://www.forbes.com/sites/christinavuleta/2016/08/15/imposter-syndrome-is-the-real-fraud-heres-how-to-stop-it/#6073ece11a0b
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqhUHyVpAwE
• https://www.fastcompany.com/3036006/hit-the-ground-running/8-practical-steps-to-getting-over-your-impostor-syndrome
• https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are?language=en
• http://thehustle.co/why-70-percent-of-millennials-have-impostor-syndrome
• https://www.buzzfeed.com/annaborges/17-dicas-geniais-para-lidar-com-a-sindrome-do-
impo?utm_term=.gsYBPbWBx#.ibwrVBGr6