According to a survey of 5000 people by the Executive Development Network, 50% of us have been affected by imposter syndrome 1.
However, I wonder how many of us are confusing the term ‘imposter syndrome’ with real skills gaps?
Imposter syndrome and having real skills gaps may both involve the scrutiny of our abilities and competencies; but they are fundamentally different.
It is important to know the distinction, especially when you are evaluating your past and future career choices.
Imposter syndrome is your internal critic and is an emotional response
Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes coined the term ‘imposter phenomenon’ in 1978.
It describes a condition whereby a person is unable to internalise their success, despite any achievements and existing evidence of their competence.
People experiencing this condition believe that they are frauds and may attribute their success to external factors such as luck, timing, or even deceit.
Imposter syndrome is not necessarily linked to any skills deficiencies.
Striving for unrealistic levels of perfection, feeling like you should be able to do everything on your own, feeling like you have to achieve the absolute heights of success in your game, feeling like you shouldn’t be allowed to fail before you achieve something, or feeling like you should be an expert in everything you do can lead to imposter syndrome.
In essence, this condition is not based on realistic expectations of oneself but rather stems from being overly harsh with oneself and having unfounded doubts about oneself.
Imposter syndrome is an emotional response that can be addressed by changing one’s mindset.
A real skills gap is a genuine disparity between what you can currently do versus what a role requires you to do – it is a rational conclusion
A real skills gap involves experiencing the feeling of not being able to do something with self-assuredness.
Any inadequacies you may feel are grounded in the fact that you simply do not have certain skills yet, or you need to brush up on skills you have not practised in a while.
This does not mean you are an imposter, but that you feel the the gap in your knowledge, skills and experience given the context of a certain situation.
This also does not mean that you don't have skills and experience, but rather that there are still things you need to learn based on your career development plan.
What skills gaps can do is affect your confidence when you are trying to achieve something specific. At least that is, until you fill those skills gaps by making a concerted effort to learn the things missing from your repertoire.
Filling a skills gap is a rational response, not an emotional one. It is a productive process that can lead to growth and career success.
How do you know if you are experiencing imposter syndrome or a real skills gap?
Analyse each of the following aspects of what you are feeling and experiencing to determine if you have imposter syndrome or a real skills gap:
Aspect | It’s probably imposter syndrome if you: | It’s probably real skills gaps if you: |
Self-Doubt | Have persistent self-doubt despite evidence of competence and achievements. | Are experiencing self-doubt as a result of specific feedback or experiences indicating a need for improvement. |
Attributing Success to Luck | Believe that your success is due to luck or external factors, not your personal abilities. | Can acknowledge your achievements are earned but can recognize areas needing further development. |
Fear of Being Exposed | Are worried that others will discover you are a "fraud.” | Are feeling exposed due to lack of specific skills or knowledge needed for your role. |
Perfectionism | Are setting yourself excessively high standards and then feeling inadequate when these standards are not met. | Are striving for improvement based on clear, attainable standards and constructive feedback. |
Discounting Praise | Are dismissing compliments and positive feedback as undeserved. | Can appreciate positive feedback but seek to enhance specific skills identified as weak. |
Feedback from Others | Ignoring or dismissing feedback from others due to imposter feelings. | Value and use others’ feedback as a guide for targeted skill development and growth. |
Difficulty with Tasks | Are feeling overwhelmed despite having the skills to perform tasks competently. | Are struggling with specific tasks due to genuine gaps in knowledge or ability. |
Need for Extra Help | Show reluctance to ask for help due to fear of being exposed as incompetent. | Actively seek help to address specific skill gaps and improve overall performance. |
Lack of Knowledge | Are overlooking areas of expertise and focusing on perceived deficiencies. | Are recognizing and actively working to fill gaps in knowledge through training and education. |
Performance Reviews | Are dismissing positive reviews and focusing on any criticism as proof of inadequacy. | Are using performance reviews to identify specific areas for improvement and setting goals. |
If you are experiencing imposter syndrome, you may need to seek counselling to challenge your negative thoughts, learn how to set realistic goals and acknowledge your achievements.
If it is a real skills gap, you need to identify which courses, training programmes or workshops to sign up for to fill these gaps, coupled with finding opportunities to practise your skills in real world environments to build your competence.
References
