In the 1970s, psychologists Pauline R. Clance and Suzanne A. Imes noticed a pattern in the women they were counseling at Georgia State University. These women, despite being accomplished, felt like frauds and feared being exposed. In 1978, this feeling was named “impostor phenomenon.”

Impostor syndrome is the constant feeling of being a fraud, downplaying achievements, and fearing exposure as incompetent. This leads to either overworking or self-sabotaging behaviors. It affects high-achieving individuals who appear successful but cannot enjoy their success, believing it to be fragile. Research shows that 70 percent of people have experienced this at some point. It can cause anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and frustration.

Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes noted four key traits of impostor syndrome, the first of which is diligence and hard work. People with this trait worry about their abilities, work hard, receive praise, feel good temporarily, and then return to self-doubt, starting the cycle again. Some might also procrastinate due to anxiety, leading to self-sabotage.

The second trait is intellectual inauthenticity. This involves downplaying one’s knowledge or skills to protect relationships. For instance, Elise, an office administrator, hesitated to share her expertise with new CEOs to avoid threatening their sense of competence, fearing she would be seen as incompetent.

The third trait is charm and perceptiveness. Individuals with impostor syndrome often use charm to gain approval, especially from mentors. They might develop high emotional intelligence to connect with others, but can fall into dysfunctional relationships where they constantly seek validation.

The last trait is seeking mentorship for external validation. People who have this trait often look for mentors to validate their worth, but might feel they earned this validation through charm rather than competence. For example, Sam was promoted multiple times at his tech startup, but still believed he had advanced due to his social skills rather than his abilities, which led to anxiety about his new role.

Impostor syndrome affects job satisfaction and career progression. Those affected might stay in unsatisfying jobs, fear negotiating, avoid promotions, and struggle with networking. However, understanding and addressing impostor syndrome can help improve professional development and career satisfaction.