Do you doubt yourself a lot at work? Do you think you’re unworthy of everything you’ve accomplished?
According to Jemma Roedel, many women struggle with imposter syndrome in the workplace. Some of the effects include fear of being revealed as a fraud and believing you’re not worthy of your achievements.
Discover more about these effects of imposter syndrome to see if you have it.
How Imposter Syndrome and Other Self-Confidence Struggles Affect Women
The effects of imposter syndrome can manifest in several ways:
- You may have trouble believing that you deserve the accolades you receive.
- You may feel like you’re a fraud, and you’ve tricked everyone into believing that you’re meant to be in your current position.
- You might fear that one day, the people around you will figure out that you’re not qualified to be where you are, and everything will fall apart when this happens.
(Shortform note: Reframing can help you deal with the feeling that you’re a fraud. For instance, feeling out of your depth means you have room to grow, which is a good thing. Nobody knows everything, and if you no longer have growth opportunities, it’s probably time to move on to something more challenging. Additionally, some experts argue that overconfidence is just as bad as a lack of confidence—if your confidence in yourself exceeds your competence, you’ll never become the best you can be. Being honest about your limitations with yourself and others can show you’re humble and willing to learn.)
Roedel cites research that suggests imposter syndrome affects more women than men. Many women in executive positions report feelings of imposter syndrome and state that they never expected to be as successful as they are. This contributes to a general lack of confidence in their performance at work.
(Shortform note: Women experience imposter syndrome more frequently because they generally face more stereotyping and social expectations. Additionally, men typically are picked for leadership roles more often, reinforcing women’s self-doubt, which has been created by years of exposure to bias and discrimination. To help prevent this, organizations must strive to create an environment of inclusivity and equal opportunity.)
Struggles with self-confidence may manifest in many other ways that hinder women’s professional success. For instance, low self-confidence often leads to perfectionism, which then leads to micromanagement and, consequently, dampens team spirit. (Shortform note: According to Brené Brown in The Gifts of Imperfection, perfectionism stems from a desire to control people’s perceptions of you. It’s an attempt to gain approval and acceptance from others by hiding your flaws and projecting the image of being perfect. Because you don’t have confidence in yourself, you seek validation from others.)
Women are less likely to advocate for raises or apply for jobs unless they know for sure that their efforts will be successful. Likewise, women often pass the credit on to someone else when they do well.
(Shortform note: Some research shows that women typically only apply for jobs when they meet 100% of the listed qualifications. In contrast, men generally apply when they meet 60% of the criteria. Additionally, women are 26% less likely to request a job referral. However, other research contradicts Roedel’s statement about raises, suggesting that women are just as likely to ask for raises as men. Despite this, they’re 5% less likely to get one after requesting it. Finally, other studies indicate that women tend to not take credit when they’re working with a group that includes men, but they do take credit for their accomplishments when they’re working exclusively with other women.)
