The most important thing I ever learned about imposter syndrome is that you don’t have it. It’s not a quality of you.
It’s a way of thinking and self-belief that is imposed onto you, over time, when you work in an environment where you don’t feel supported or safe enough to be vulnerable. Here, you will begin to feel less than, not good enough, and it will be very difficult to succeed.
An environment that brings out your authentic self will only grow your confidence — that you are capable, excellent even, and that given any challenge you will stretch to face it.
So this can be fixed — and what needs fixing is not you. Because you were always capable.
Changing your environment is hard, but doable — whether it’s your workplace, your team, or getting the right support in your personal life. But the first step is the reframe, so let me remind you:
You’re smart, capable, and intelligent. There is nothing wrong with who you are.
You don’t have imposter syndrome. You don’t need fixing, your environment does.