⛰️ Getting to "I can"

I just learned imposter syndrome is out — the term, not the experience. Instead, when we think others overestimate our competence, researchers call it the imposter phenomenon. (Sounds like a cool movie.)

The word syndrome “implies an abnormal medical condition,” writes psychology professor Kevin Cokley in the Harvard Business Review, while “feeling like a phony on the job” is “fairly common: up to 80% of people have experienced imposter feelings.”

I take his point. At the same time, I do think “syndrome” captures how it feels to suddenly get taken over by an external force bent on your destruction.

We’re often blind to our own expertise. I’ve been reviewing books since 2011 for Booklist magazine. At two books a month, that means I’ve read and reviewed about 300 books professionally. And it only occurred to me this week that I’ve gained some expertise from all this critiquing that might be helpful as I write my first book. (Hey there to my beta readers, I’m getting you those chapters this week!)

In part, I think these feelings of being a fraud stem from one of the many lies the career ladder concept tells us: that when you start a new role, you automatically and instantly are able to perform that role. After all, you’ve earned it! In reality, it takes time to grow into new responsibilities. This is why my mom told me to embrace my inner Mary Manhattan and pretend to be confident when I’m out of my comfort zone. Two recent conversations really brought this home for me: