To think “imposter syndrome” is sometimes just a sign you’re underqualified?

[EdgyRobin]

It’s not always deep or gendered, sometimes your gut is telling you the truth.

Well, no.

For it to be imposter synomrome, you literally have to be competent at it.

Not being able to do something is not the same thing as imposter syndrome.

There's a definition and everything.

If you're not good at the thing then it's not imposter syndrome so no.

Even the most qualified and experienced, competent people can have imposter syndrome.

Ironically, it’s the most useless people at the highest level who should have it, but don’t.

No, because it's not imposter syndrome if you're not qualified enough.

I get a bit 🙄 at people claiming imposter syndrome as a means of humble bragging ("I can't believe they picked little old me to do this presentation to 20,000 people! All I've ever done is... lists accomplishments and awaits praise"), but that's beside the point!

DH was a CEO in a number of large organisations with decades of proven skills and achievements. Nobody but me would have known that he was constantly wracked with self-confidence issues and was always convinced that he was winging it and the house of cards would come tumbling down. To everyone else he seemed calm, confident and a pair of safe hands.

He had no reason to feel the way he did other than his own mindset. It’s only since he retired that he’s begun to appreciate what a great job he did. That’s what imposter syndrome is.

Even the best people can lack confidence.

I think you may be right. I'd like to see the stats for it as well and see if it's experienced more in countries like the US and the Uk where young people are often promoted to management because of their technical skills/experience, but who still lack life experience.

Most people moving jobs do so to stretch themselves into a more challenging and hopefully rewarding situation - the transition is when the imposter syndrome kicks in. I think if you don’t feel IS when changing jobs then you’re not doing things right and just coasting

Yes, but you quite often hear things like "everyone has imposter syndrome", which is ridiculous of course.

Oh I wasn't suggesting that it's not a real thing or that people who are outwardly confident never feel self-doubt - just that some people use the imposter syndrome buzzword for attention. My post had a particular individual I know in mind who dies this and yet shows a total lack of empathy for people who do (outwardly) lack confidence.

PP are correct, but I know what you mean.

Being competent and not believing it is technically imposter syndrome.

Being genuinely incompetent and not believing you're capable, but being told it's just imposter syndrome means that people don't learn or improve when they need to.

If the truth is that you’re not good at your job, then it’s not imposter syndrome.