How Impostor Syndrome Affects Even the Most Successful People

Imagine being at the top of your field yet constantly feeling like a fraud. This isn’t a rare sensation but a common thread among successful individuals, from celebrated authors to revered scientists. The irony? The more you achieve, the more these feelings seem to tighten their grip. Welcome to the perplexing world of impostor syndrome, a psychological pattern that leaves you doubting your accomplishments, regardless of the accolades and recognition you’ve earned.

At the heart of this phenomenon lies a fascinating contradiction: those who have seemingly “made it” often deal with crippling self-doubt. This isn’t mere modesty. It’s a fundamental belief that you’ve somehow deceived others into believing you are more capable than the reality. The stakes feel impossibly high, with each success only amplifying the fear of being exposed.

Data suggests that nearly 70% of people will experience impostor feelings at some point. Intriguingly, those most affected are often the high achievers, the perfectionists, the trailblazers. So, what makes impostor syndrome so pervasive among those who seem to have it all?

The Secret Most Successful People Keep

In 1978, psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes gave a name to something millions had been silently battling. They called it the impostor phenomenon: the persistent internal experience of intellectual fraudulence, the nagging sense that your achievements don’t reflect genuine competence, and the fear that others will eventually discover the truth.

Even the most accomplished individuals can feel like impostors in their own lives.

What surprised Clance and Imes — and continues to surprise those who encounter this research — is who their original subjects were. Not anxious beginners or people who’d stumbled into roles they weren’t qualified for. The original study focused on high-achieving women who were objectively successful by any external measure. The impostor feelings were strongest in precisely the people who had the most evidence against them.

This phenomenon isn’t limited to women or the initial study group. Modern surveys reveal that high achievers across various fields, including actors like Emma Watson and business leaders like Sheryl Sandberg, have openly discussed facing impostor syndrome. The fear of fraudulence doesn’t discriminate by gender or profession.

Why Achievement Doesn’t Fix It

The counterintuitive feature of impostor syndrome is that success doesn’t reliably reduce it. For those prone to it, each new achievement can paradoxically increase impostor feelings by raising the stakes of eventual discovery. If you weren’t sure you deserved the junior role, wait until you get promoted to a senior one. The expectation of being exposed simply moves to a higher level.

This is partly because the attributional patterns of impostor syndrome are self-sealing. Successes get attributed to luck, timing, or fooling people. Failures get attributed to genuine incompetence. This asymmetry means the internal ledger never balances in the person’s favor, regardless of the objective track record. The evidence that would disconfirm impostor feelings gets dismissed, and the evidence that would confirm them gets retained.

Take the case of Dr. Valerie Young, an expert on impostor syndrome, who notes that many people with these feelings believe they are the only ones who feel this way. In her book, “The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women,” Young outlines how deeply ingrained these thought patterns can be, leading individuals to perpetuate their own cycle of self-doubt.

Who Gets It Most

Subsequent research has found impostor syndrome across genders and demographics, though the experience varies. It tends to be stronger in competitive high-achievement environments, in people who are members of groups underrepresented in their field (where a lack of role models makes the sense of belonging more fragile), in people with perfectionist tendencies, and in people entering genuinely new roles or contexts where uncertainty is high.

Among high-achieving groups — academics, executives, medical professionals — the rates are consistently high. Maya Angelou famously said she always felt that someone would eventually “find out” she wasn’t as good as people thought. Tom Hanks has made similar comments. The list of people who’ve described the experience is extensive and impressive, which is itself instructive.

Interestingly, impostor syndrome can manifest differently based on cultural backgrounds. In cultures that emphasize humility and modesty, for instance, acknowledging one’s achievements may feel uncomfortable, thus exacerbating impostor feelings. It’s a complex interplay of personal and societal expectations.

The Difference Between Impostor Syndrome and Legitimate Self-Doubt

Not all self-doubt is impostor syndrome, and distinguishing between the two is crucial. Genuine skill gaps exist. Being new to a role and uncertain about your competence is often appropriate calibration. Impostor syndrome is characterized by the persistence of fraudulence feelings in the face of objective evidence of competence, the specific fear of being “found out,” and the consistent dismissal of genuine achievements as something other than evidence of ability.

Feedback loops in impostor syndrome are particularly destructive. While constructive criticism should ideally guide growth, those with impostor syndrome may interpret it as confirmation of their perceived inadequacy. In contrast, legitimate self-doubt can be a healthy response to new challenges, driving learning and improvement.

What Actually Helps

To combat impostor syndrome, it’s essential to adopt proactive strategies. Normalizing the experience is a foundational step. Knowing that impostor syndrome is common can lessen its impact. Sharing these feelings with peers often results in mutual acknowledgment and relief.

Consider the approach used by Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook. She openly discusses her struggles with impostor syndrome and advocates for speaking about these feelings. By bringing them into open conversation, individuals can undermine the power these feelings hold.

Another effective method is reframing your understanding of discomfort. As mentioned by many psychologists, the discomfort of impostor feelings often signals that you’re engaging in growth-inducing work. Embracing this discomfort as a sign of challenge rather than a signal of fraudulence can transform the narrative.

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Sources

• Clance, P. & Imes, S. (1978). The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice.
• Sakulku, J. (2011). The Impostor Phenomenon. International Journal of Behavioral Science.
• Young, V. (2011). The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women. Crown Business.