It's time to debunk imposter syndrome. Societal bias fuels imposter feelings and supercharges self-doubt, so let's focus on systemic change rather than pathologising women.
This blog is for anyone who, like me, has felt the weight of systems working against them and has unfairly blamed themselves for having self-doubt.
I'll unpack the Imposter "Syndrome" narrative and give tips on reframing imposter syndrome and increasing self-belief.
Why did I feel like an imposter?
First, a little story.
I was shy.
I hated presenting.
I was confident and tenacious.
As a female software engineer, I stood out.
As a female software leader, I stood out more.
Even in my leadership roles worldwide, I worried that my abilities were overestimated and that I would be found out.
If only I could deal with my feeling of being an outsider!
🥁 Drum roll...imposter syndrome.
What is imposter syndrome?
When I first read about imposter syndrome...I felt relieved. I had a diagnosis - I was suffering from a real affliction.
Impostor syndrome is discussed in all parts of life—personal and professional. It's all over TikTok and LinkedIn, with titles like "How to conquer imposter syndrome."
Imposter syndrome refers to persistent self-doubt regarding your abilities and accomplishments and a fear of being exposed as a fraud despite evidence of success.
Why I waved goodbye to imposter syndrome
Today, I view my experience differently.
I stumbled across this MUST-READ article - Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome.
Finally, I realised I never needed fixing at all.
My imposter feelings were not an illusion - they reflected the sea I was swimming in.
How do imposter feelings get supercharged?
For your context, ask yourself the following;
What systemic biases or barriers in my industry might contribute to your imposter feelings?
Are there any role models or mentors from similar backgrounds in your field?
What societal expectations or stereotypes do you feel pressure to live up to?
As a leader in tech for most of my career, this was my reality.
I was the only woman in the room for most of my leadership career.
In my mid-career years, no one looked or sounded like me, i.e., a young working-class female software engineer, product owner, and director.
My London working-class accent was occasionally mocked - all good fun eh?
I lost count of the times I was mistaken for a junior team member when I was the manager or senior leader.
On overseas work trips, the hotel staff sometimes stopped me to verify I had a room at the hotel and was not there to service business folks. Yep.
I have never had a female boss.
The further into my career I moved, there were fewer mid-career women in tech. Half of women leave tech by age 35.
I felt like an imposter because I was an anomaly in the system.
What are the origins of imposter syndrome?
The origins are linked to a 1978 research paper on the Impostor Phenomenon by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes, which studied high-achieving white women in the 1970s.
In a New York Times article by Leslie Jamison, "Why Everyone Feels Like They're Faking It," the researchers Clance and Imes discussed how their idea has been twisted, technically incorrect, and misleading.
Clance and Imes described an imposter 'experience'.
Imposter syndrome is not a medical 'syndrome'.
Instead of framing the insecurities of individuals, especially those who belong to marginalized groups, as a problem that arises from within these individuals, we attest that it is time that researchers consider the important role of outside forces as well—how context and social structure create impostor feelings. Frontiers in Psychology, 2020
How does self-doubt relate to imposter feelings?
While it can overlap with imposter feelings, self-doubt may not involve the specific feeling of being an "imposter" or fraud. Self-doubt can manifest as:
Negative self-talk and harsh self-judgment
Focusing more on flaws than successes
Lack of confidence in various areas of life
Sensitivity to criticism
That said, imposter feelings and self-doubt often reinforce each other.
Who experiences self-doubt?
Self-doubt affects everyone, including men, as highlighted in the Catalyst report discussing the consequences of masculine anxiety within work environments. The intersection of our identities and the prevailing workplace and societal expectations creates pressures, potentially resulting in feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt.
Identifying as working class in tech is rare regardless of gender—9% of tech workers in the UK, according to the UK Tech Talent Charter in 2024.
Before imposter syndrome, there was bicycle face
Bicycle Face was a so-called medical condition from the late 1800s that falsely claimed cycling could make women unattractive and more susceptible to diseases. This misconception stemmed from outdated views on women's physical activities and societal roles. In 1897, Dr. Sarah Hackett Stevenson, the first female member of the American Medical Association, definitively debunked the myth of Bicycle Face.
Reshma Saujani is the founder of Girls Who Code and CEO of Moms First. She blew me away in her 2023 Commencement talk at Smith College in the United States. Her Imposter Syndrome and Bicycle Face analogy highlights how we still pathologise women to adhere to societal norms.
The need to challenge systems
Many systems that govern our lives (economic, social, political) are complex and operate in ways that aren't immediately obvious. Just because I am a woman doesn't mean I know what systems work for or against me. I had to learn about them to see them.
Women are vastly underrepresented as software engineers and leaders. Women face systemic barriers, including hiring policies, motherhood penalties, harassment, bias, discrimination, and lack of representation. The experience of women of colour can be far worse than for white women - dig into the Women in the Workplace 2023 report.
➡️ There are brilliant resources to help us understand myths, biases, and systemic barriers and organisations driving positive change in tech-related industries.
What to do about feelings of self-doubt?
Okay, while you know systemic issues are making you feel like an imposter, that doesn't magically disappear your self-doubt. Whether doubting your abilities at work, in relationships, or in pursuing your dreams, self-doubt is real and impactful.
List your past achievements. It's not about how far you need to go but how far you've come. Reflect on your accomplishments, no matter how small. Join one of our free #IAmRemarkable workshops.
Spend time with supportive people. Surround yourself with people who encourage you, especially at critical career decision points. We all need cheerleaders!
Identify and challenge negative thoughts. Notice negative thought patterns and question whether they are indeed valid. Reframe negative self-talk into more positive, realistic statements. Check out negative thought patterns.
Practice self-compassion. Be kind towards yourself, just as you would be towards a friend. Check out Dr. Kristin Neff's videos.
Notice comparison gremlins. Comparing yourself to others often leads to feelings of inadequacy. Focus on your journey instead of measuring yourself against others. Check out Brene Brown's TedTalk.
Work with a coach and/or mentor. Self-doubt can also come from past experiences and internalised beliefs. Experienced coaches and mentors can give you tools to challenge your inner critic, which can get in the way of taking that promotion.
As a coach, I support many people who battle self-doubt. But I don't pathologise these feelings as imposter 'syndrome'. I invite a systemic perspective to explore what fuels imposter feelings OR self-doubt and give you tools to recognise and manage it.
In conclusion, let's stop putting all the burden of self-doubt on the individual and learn about and challenge the systemic barriers. What are ways we can break down barriers together? Check out these Code First Girls resources.