How to Confront the 5 Types of Imposter Syndrome
How can you beat imposter syndrome?
I think the “whys” could be different — in my humble opinion.
Some people would say that’s imposter syndrome.
I prefer talking about insecurities — or lack of self-esteem.
But let’s see how we can deal with the 5 types of imposter syndrome.
1. The Expert
Here’s when people think they should know everything about their field.
If there is more to learn, they feel like a fraud.
They start doubting their expertise.
And they also hesitate to embrace their accomplishments as an expert.
In this case, what they should do is this:
→ Embrace lifelong learning
→ Acknowledge expertise as a journey, not a destination
2. The Soloist
Here’s when people feel inadequate by asking for help.
They think something like this:
→ “If I can’t attain a certain level on my own, I’m not competent.”
→ “If I rely on others, I don’t deserve my accomplishments.”
In this case, what they should do is this:
→ Recognize that asking for help is a strength
3. The Super-person
Here’s when people feel they need to attain the highest levels of success.
Like they should be a Super-person.
In this case, what they should do is this:
→ Shift focus from external achievements to internal growth
→ Cultivate self-compassion
4. The Perfectionist
Here’s when people hold themselves to an impossibly high standard.
If they’re not absolutely perfect:
→ They believe they could have done better
→ They start doubting their worth
→ They fear others will see through their perceived flaws
→ They feel they’re not good enough…
In this case, what they should do is this:
→ Embrace the concept of “progress” over “perfection”
→ Value their effort
→ Accepting the fact they can learn more from mistakes than successes
5. The Natural Genius
Here’s when people think intelligence and competence should come effortlessly.
They think something like this:
→ “If things don’t click immediately, maybe I’m not…”
In this case, what they should do is this:
→ Embracing the process of learning and growth (the process!)
→ Accepting the fact that mastery needs patience (but not passivity!)
As we’ve seen, the words “growth” and “learn” are pretty common in these 5 types.
That’s why I think we need to move from
→ dealing with imposter syndrome
to
→ cultivating our self-esteem