Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science.
Charles Darwin
1809 - 1882

A couple of years ago, my daughter was contacted by an association that had been using her services on a freelance basis for over a decade. They had decided that they wanted to completely redesign their web identity and wanted to know if she could design and code a new email template and a custom WordPress site for them. My daughter had years of experience working on web sites but not much specifically with WordPress, so she declined their offer to bid on the work.

As part of the transition, my daughter was asked to provide information about the existing site to the winning bidder. Based on their conversations, she quickly deduced that the person in charge of creating the new site hadn’t been in that line of work for long and didn’t understand some basic procedures necessary for the job. My daughter was understandably upset that she had passed up the work due to a lack of WordPress experience only to see the contract handed to someone who was clearly learning on the fly.

My daughter fell prey to a condition known as impostor syndrome, where people believe they don’t have sufficient knowledge, talent or experience to do a particular job or task. They fear that in time, they’ll fail to perform as expected, and others will discover their shortcomings and either reprimand or ridicule them.

This condition is increasingly common today, partly due to downsizing in the workplace and rapid changes in technology: companies expect workers to be able to handle a broad variety of tasks and to learn on the job as requirements change and evolve. Psychology experts hold that the intense competition in the workforce also fosters this condition.

It’s unfortunate, but many conscientious and talented people are held back by impostor syndrome while overconfident people don’t hesitate to jump at any opportunity. Women are also much more likely than men to feel that they don’t deserve a given job because of a perceived lack of knowledge or experience.

So how can you avoid being hampered by impostor syndrome?

For a start, take comfort in the fact that you’re not alone. In fact, it’s extremely common, particularly among highly skilled individuals. Award-winning women such as Kate Winslet and Maya Angelou have admitted to it, and experts estimate almost 70% of the population have dealt with it at some point in their lives.

Next, take time to recognize and acknowledge how much you know and how talented you are. Write down the many skills you possess and make a list of your accomplishments for the last several years. They can’t all be due to luck.

Remember to also be realistic in your expectations. You might worry that you don’t know everything, but that’s okay; no one does. You don’t have to be perfect or be the best worker ever – you just have to do the best you can.

Finally, stop comparing yourself to other people. You can’t know how easy or hard tasks are for others or the full array of knowledge and skills you have that they don’t.

Impostor syndrome can hold you back in your career and in your personal life, keeping you from pursuing your goals and dreams. Don’t let feelings of inadequacy undermine your potential. Take stock of your worth on a regular basis, and if you can’t convince yourself, seek out the opinions of others qualified to evaluate your talents.

I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I’m like, ‘My back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don’t have it. I just want to chill.’ We all have self-doubt. You don’t deny it, but you also don’t capitulate to it.
Kobe Bryant
1978 –

Copyright © 2015 John Chancellor and Cheryl Chancellor