Article written by Ivan Schofield
Impostor Syndrome has become a widely used term to describe feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness, despite evidence to the contrary. But is it a genuine syndrome, or simply natural moments of self-doubt? And how can we address these feelings when they arise?
Understanding Impostor Syndrome
The term “impostor phenomenon” was first introduced by American psychologists in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Originally observed in high-achieving women, it was described as a tendency among successful individuals to exhibit certain characteristics such as:
- A need to be special or the best
- Fear of failure and being “found out”
- Denial of ability and discounting praise
- Fear and guilt about success
Various surveys and straw polls suggest 70-90% of people report experiencing what we now call Impostor Syndrome. And there have, indeed, been some famous “sufferers”:
“You think: why would anyone want to see me again in a movie; I don’t know how to act anyway, so why am I doing this?” Meryl Streep (quoted in Marie Claire Nov 2016)
“The exaggerated esteem in which my life work is held, I feel, compelled to think of myself as an involuntary swindler”. Albert Einstein (multiple sources)
However, a fleeting thought, or even a spell of self-doubt, doesn’t mean that we suffer from Impostor Syndrome. It just means that we have experienced moments of self-doubt which led to a thought process making us wonder whether we are worthy of the role we find ourselves in. Such a thought may knock us sideways momentarily, but we are able to relatively quickly process all this and move on, thanks to coping mechanisms that we’ve built over time. I call these “Impostor Moments”.
A syndrome, on the other hand, is something that is chronic or persistent in nature. In the case of Impostor Syndrome, the impostor moments can cumulate and carry such emotional weight that they become self-maintaining, undermining our confidence and leading us to modify our behaviour in unhelpful ways. Over time this may cause our performance, self-worth, or mental well-being to deteriorate with Impostor Syndrome becoming a form of self-fulfilling prophecy.
The Role of Self-Doubt
In simple terms, these moments of self-doubt emerge from a difference between our self-image (how we see ourselves) and our self-expectations related to the responsibilities we find ourselves with (how we think we “should” be).
“Impostor moments” are more common during times when our responsibilities change. This is because our self-image evolves slowly over time and yet our responsibilities may evolve suddenly, for example if the business you are running scales up significantly through acquisition.
It is also common to experience self-doubt in the period after investment by a Private Equity sponsor. A Private Equity investment may bring a challenging or accelerated growth trajectory or increase the rigour and challenges which may move a Founder CEO or their team out of their comfort zone.
Over time, this gap tends to close as we gain experience and our self-image adjusts accordingly. However, coaching support may be helpful to accelerate this process when self-doubt persists.
Managing Self-Doubt and Impostor Moments
The first and simplest way of reducing the gap is to go easy on ourselves. The expectations that we have of ourselves are very often higher than the expectations that others have. And this can very often be resolved by a simple dialogue with the people around us.
Also, a technique called “thought restructuring” can help. Taking the example of a Founder CEO adapting to working with a Private Equity Sponsor, the process might go as follows:
| 1 | Identifying Distorted Thoughts | Firstly recognise and call out your negative self-talk. Psychologists call this “naming it to tame it”. For example:
“I am feeling out of my depth; this is making me think that I don’t deserve to be here and that I’m not going to make it.” |
| 2 | Challenging the Thought | Now question the validity of the negative thought. For example:
“It’s normal that I’m struggling because this is a new environment. They are used to this environment, so obviously they are more comfortable in it.” |
| 3 | Evaluate the Evidence | The next step is to consider alternative perspectives. For example:
“They are good at what they do because they think differently from me. That’s why I chose to have them as investors. I have strengths in other areas and we are here to learn from each other.” |
| 4 | Reframe the Thought | Seek to develop a more balanced perspective. For example:
“We all have different strengths and are here to learn from each other. If there are skills gaps then I can develop myself or find people with the skills we need.” |
Imposter Moments Are Common (We’re All Human)
Most of us will experience self-doubt, particularly at times of change. Feeling like an impostor now and then doesn’t mean you are one — it just means that you’re human.
There are some simple and effective tools to help deal with these moments; however if self-doubt becomes overwhelming or persistent then seeking coaching support may be beneficial.
For an extended version of this article which explains the phenomenon and thought restructuring in more detail, please contact ivan@and-become.com
Note
Following an executive career in international and UK leadership roles, Ivan Schofield now acts as a coach, mentor and advisor to CEOs and senior leaders in private equity portfolio companies.
Having been a CEO for 16 years and a serving NED / Chair in high growth environments, Ivan recognises the challenges of organisational leadership in the intense and fast-paced private equity environment. He combines traditional coaching techniques with practical tools to help leaders be more effective and content whilst not losing sight of the value creation imperative.
