23 Aug Successful People and the Imposter Syndrome
Can successful people also have the Imposter Syndrome? It is hard to image. Fiona and Birgitta ask themselves this question while talking about the Imposter Syndrome and come to an insightful conclusion.
Transcript
Birgitta: So you’re very knowledgeable about Imposter Syndrome, and I would like to ask you a question. I mean, when you…
Fiona: (laughing to camera) She just said I’m knowledgeable about the Imposter Syndrome, you know what came in my head? You know what came? No, I’m not! I’m not good enough! There are other people far more knowledgeable but yes, I’m going to try and answer your question the best I can. (laughter)
B: Okay, let’s–
F: No, no don’t {stop the recording} keep going, I’m loving it. We’re showing you our vulnerabilities (laughing to camera). Keep it going, ask me the question.
B: Okay, so when you get more successful, and when you look at successful people you have the feeling that they’re so confident and so do you think they have the Imposter as well?
F: Absolutely.
B: Really?
F: Yeah, I think one definition of an Imposter Syndrome is you feel, you get this message or this voice inside of you that’s doubting you even though you’re successful, even though you’re doing well. You still get this thing. So like for me, I’ve done martial arts since I was a kid, by now I should know something, and yet every time I go on the mat, I see all my weaknesses and I know more than ever what I don’t know and how much more there is to learn. I feel like a real imposter.
B: Okay. I have that feeling sometimes when, or actually most of the time when I have a new coaching client, and I know that I don’t know anything about them, and I don’t know if I will be really capable to help them, even though I have all that experience, and all that knowledge.
F: Yeah, and all those other people you’ve helped.
B: Oh yeah.
But what if this is the one person?
B: No, absolutely, absolutely. And, so what do you think is the difference then, between the successful people and us commoners
F: (laughing) Us commoners! We’re all successful darling.
B: I know. (laughs)
F: Us common successful people.
B: highly successful people, and us the common people.
F: You know the difference? Is they have the bigger Imposter Syndrome, when it hits them. And it won’t hit all of them, but a lot of them when it does hit, you know the more expert you are, the better you are, the more everyone expects you to be absolutely brilliant. And so wow, what a thing to live with. So I think that’s really when anyone suffers from the Imposter Syndrome, just think to yourself, well look, if I’m looking at somebody else thinking they know so much more than me, think wow, what are they thinking now, what are the expectations on them.
B: Yeah, I know, I agree.