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Unpacking Michelle Obama’s Impostor Syndrome
In a December 2018 talk at an all-girls school in North London, Michelle Obama was asked how she felt about being viewed as a “symbol of hope.” That’s when the former First Lady disclosed something countless millions of women and men worldwide experience, but often don’t have a name for. "I still have a little [bit of] impostor syndrome, it never goes away, that you're actually listening to me." Impostor syndrome describes a core belief that we're not as bright or competent or talented as...
Chicago Tribune: Who Do You Think You Are? Big success can make you feel so small
Who Do You Think You Are? Big success can make you feel so small Wednesday, March 30, 2005 By Leslie Goldman All eyes were on Liz Ryan as she took the stage in New York to receive her “Stevie” award — the business equivalent of an Oscar. But as she accepted, Ryan, founder and chief executive officer of WorldWIT, a women’s online discussion community, was filled with doubt. “Bill Rancic (of “The Apprentice”) was handing me the award and I’m thinking, ‘Who the hell am I? I’m just a mom with...
The Sydney Morning Herald: False Negatives
False Negatives March 5, 2003 By Annemarie Fleming The point We all have moments of doubt but feeling you’re not up to the job can cripple your career. Do you ever feel you are a phoney? That, despite the framed diploma on the wall, you are a fake? That success in your job is due to luck, timing or just being liked, rather than how skilled you are? If you answered “yes”, you may be pleased to hear you’re not alone. Studies estimate up to 70 percent of us feel this way at some time in...
Irish Independent: Are You Suffering from Impostor Syndrome? You’re smart and successful, so why do you sometimes feel like a failure?
Are You Suffering From Impostor Syndrome? You’re smart and successful, so why do you sometimes feel like a failure? Tuesday, August 16th, 2005 By Lucy Bowen Did you just get a promotion, a pay rise or even a completely new job but you’re beset by fears that you’re not quite up to it? It may be that you have ‘impostor syndrome’, a term coined by clinical psychologist Dr Pauline Clance to describe doubt in your own abilities and a fear of not maintaining your success. Here are some ways to...
Baltimore Business Journal, Are You an Impostor?
Are You an Impostor? Phenomenon makes executives doubt their own abilities, skills June 20, 2008 By Rachel Sams You look poised. You speak with confidence. You get the job done right.Your colleagues have no idea you lie awake at night, afraid they'll finally discover how incompetent you really are. If you recognize yourself in those words, the culprit could be something called “the impostor phenomenon.” It's the tendency of some high-achieving people to discount their accomplishments and...
The Chronicle of Higher Education: You’re Not Fooling Anyone
You’re Not Fooling Anyone November 9, 2007 By John Gravois, New York Holden Caulfield used to hunt phonies a few blocks from here, but times have changed. Now the phonies — or people who think they are, anyway — hunt themselves. Case in point: On a recent evening, Columbia University held a well-attended workshop for young academics who feel like frauds. These were duly vetted, highly successful scholars who nonetheless live in creeping fear of being found out. Exposed. Sent packing. If...
Ventura County Star: Who They Foolin’? From celebrities to CEOs, many successful people suffer from syndrome called ‘impostor phenomenon’
Who They Foolin’? From celebrities to CEOs, many successful people suffer from syndrome called ‘impostor phenomenon’ November 17, 2002 By Kim Lamb Gregory When she asked to be president of the National Association of Women Business Owners of Ventura County, Jerri Hemsworth smiled and accepted but inside she was thinking, “Do they really know I don’t know what the hell I’m doing?” she recalled with a chuckle. The Woodland Hills businesswoman was just as self-effacing about the...
The Globe and Mail: Feeling Like a Fraud
Feeling Like a Fraud Wednesday, June 2, 2004 By Susan Pinker, Special to The Globe and Mail When Prof. Monique Frize was offered a prestigious academic research chair on women in engineering, her first reaction was a sense of foreboding, not pride. Despite past successes as a biomedical engineer in Montreal and as head of biomedical services for New Brunswick’s hospital system, the professor of engineering at both the University of Ottawa and Carleton University in Ottawa felt...
The Globe and Mail: Even accomplished workers can fall prey to ‘impostor phenomenon’
Feel like a fraud? Workplace might be to blame Even accomplished workers can fall prey to ‘impostor phenomenon’ Saturday, December 24, 2005 By Virginia Galt It’s not uncommon for high achievers to sometimes harbour fears of inadequacy. Indeed, some organizational psychologists suggest that a little uncertainty is good if it spurs us on to greater efforts. However, some workplaces are so “aggressively competitive” that they make even the most accomplished employees feel unworthy of their...
The Executive Female: The Impostor Phenomenon: Are Achievers Draining Their Companies?
From The Executive Female (magazine published by the National Association of Female Executives) March/April 1986 By Valerie Young, Ed.D Companies as well as individuals pay a high price when achievers secretly feel they have fooled others about their talents. When qualified workers fear risks, get caught in the “expert trap,” and are prone to perfectionism and procrastination, there’s a leak in the corporations human resources pool. Waste in the Workplace The Impostor Syndrome, although...
The Hamilton Spectator: Welcome to the Faker Fringe: Many people, haunted by fear, don’t believe in their own success
Welcome to the Faker Fringe Many people, haunted by fear, don’t believe in their own success April 19, 2006 By Nicola Pulling They say I am a perfectionist. I’m not. I’ve never done anything perfectly. They say I’m too hard on myself. And in my mind, that always leads to: They’re going to find out. I’ve been in documentary television for 15 years. I’ve climbed from researcher-writer to producer-director. I’ve travelled the world for stories. Our teams have won awards. I look like I’m...
