Different Types of Impostor Syndrome

High achievers and successful people always look like they have their life adequately sorted. You would never be able to guess that many of them may suffer from impostor syndrome. Even though they seem to be on top of the world, they are grappling with feelings of inadequacy and incompetency. In this article, we will see different types of impostor syndrome.

People with impostor syndrome feel they do not deserve to be in the position they are in even though they are completely qualified. They feel like they are a fraud whose secrets will be uncovered in front of everybody any day.

“Impostor syndrome is very harmful and can take different forms. If you feel like a fraud at work even though all the evidence points to the contrary, read on to figure out what type of impostor you are.”

The Perfectionist 

Impostor syndrome and perfectionism often go together. This is because perfectionists set very high goals for themselves and experience major self-doubt when they are unable to reach them.

They are also controlling freaks because they feel like if they want something done just right, they will have to do it themselves. And if someone else under them is doing the work, they will relentlessly micromanage everything. Perfectionists also have trouble delegating work because, deep down, they think no one else will be able to do the job as well as them.

For a perfectionist, success is rarely satisfying because they always think they could have done a better job. But celebrating achievements is also crucial in order to avoid burnout. You should try to find contentment with a job well done and cultivate self-confidence.

The Superwoman or Superman

People suffering from impostor syndrome force themselves to work harder than everybody else to measure up. This is because they feel they are phonies working amongst qualified people who deserve to be there.

The excessive obsession with work is an attempt to cover up their feelings of inadequacy and insecurity. The overload of work can be very harmful to their mental health in the long run.

These people work so hard that they start being considered superwoman or superman. But it’s important to remember that none of us has superpowers, and we all have our limits, so we shouldn’t push ourselves too hard.

Impostor workaholics become addicted to the validation they receive from working. If you suffer from this, you should attempt to train yourself to move away from external validation. Your happiness or contentment should not be dependent on the approval of others. Sure, getting appreciated at work feels great, and it is not a wrong motivation to have either, but you should not be dependent on it.

The Natural Genius

People who fall under this category believe they should be natural geniuses at work. They judge their work not in relation to their efforts but rather the speed and ease with which they complete the tasks.

They feel shame if they take longer than usual to finish an assignment. These impostors tend to set their internal bar too high, like perfectionists. They expect to get things right on the first try itself, and when sometimes that doesn’t happen, they feel like failures.

To overcome this impostor syndrome, try looking at yourself as a work in progress. Remind yourself that accomplishing great things takes time, and it is not a matter of shame if you fail a few times on the way.

What type of impostor syndrome are you familiar with? Let us know by writing in the comment section below.