Overworking and difficulty making decisions: signs of impostor syndrome, according to expert 

Impostor syndrome is a very common phenomenon and cause of workplace stress, leading people at all career levels to doubt themselves. The AI career hub Kickresume has teamed up with accredited Impostor Syndrome Informed Coach™ Lāsma Poļikeviča to explore this issue, and provide tips for businesses and employees on how to tackle it. 

The key findings included the traits that make people more likely to experience impostor syndrome and how it manifests differently at different career levels—as well as how it might have a positive side. 

Firstly, the coach explained to Kickresume that people of any career level, age, gender or background could experience impostor syndrome: the fear that they will be exposed as a “fraud”. It can lead to people getting stuck in the impostor syndrome cycle, in which they feel anxious when given a task, and either overprepare or procrastinate, before completing the task. However, their self-doubt stops them internalising their success and they are left feeling as if they will definitely fail next time. 

Some common signs that people might be experiencing this issue include: 

• Chronic self-doubt and fear of failure

• Putting their success down to external factors rather than their own achievements or skills

• Overworking because they feel they need to compensate for their inadequacy 

• Avoiding challenges because they are afraid they will be exposed as incapable 

• Dismissing and overlooking their accomplishments and the praise they receive

• Difficulty making decisions

• Lower job satisfaction

• Stress, burnout and associated mental health problems such as anxiety and depression

Professionals at any level of seniority can experience impostor syndrome, but it can manifest for different reasons and have different effects. Workers with less experience, or who are more junior, might feel less motivated to progress in their careers because of their self-doubt. 

On the other hand, leaders might find their impostor syndrome comes from the pressure of their role, and they might feel less motivated to lead their teams, or have difficulty making decisions on behalf of their department, and be less likely to take risks. 

The coach told Kickresume that there are a number of factors that put people at higher risk of developing impostor syndrome. Personality traits include being a perfectionist; having low self-esteem; or having the psychological trait of neuroticism, being prone to negative emotions. 

People who belong to a marginalised group may also be more likely to experience impostor syndrome, due to a phenomenon that studies call “stereotype threat”: the fear that they will be judged by others in a way that confirms negative stereotypes. 

Family background can also play a role, with people who grew up with highly competitive sibling relationships at a higher risk of impostor syndrome, as well as those who felt intense pressure from their parents to perform well in school.

Lastly, some workplaces can cause people to develop impostor syndrome or make it worse. Competitive and high-achieving workplaces can put pressure on employees, making them feel like they are not qualified to be there. Transitioning into a leadership role can cause self-doubt, because of the increased level of responsibility as well as feeling more visible within the organisation. Workplaces that do not offer much support can also intensify feelings of impostor syndrome. 

Impostor syndrome causes a great deal of stress for workers and can have a negative effect on the wider organisation too, but the coach told Kickresume there can be some positive sides. People who experience this problem are often hard-working team members who have a high level of self awareness. They also tend to be good at working together with others, perhaps because they feel the need to prove themselves. 

There may also be a positive side to the difficulty making decisions and risk-avoidance that can come with impostor syndrome, in that it can lead people to be careful and conscientious. Finally, an indirect effect of people experiencing this issue is that they might share their story with colleagues, leading to a more open and empathetic work culture—as long as they feel able to talk about it at work.

Lāsma Poļikeviča said that individuals might be able to overcome impostor syndrome, or lessen its effects, with mindfulness and cognitive behavioural techniques, to help change the way they think. She also told Kickresume that these individuals might benefit from joining support groups or speaking to a professional mentor about the way they are feeling. 

On an organisational level, the coach said businesses should organise workshops and training sessions where employees can share their experiences and learn about how to beat impostor syndrome. A previous survey from Kickresume revealed that 50% of senior leaders said learning that other people feel the same way would help them stop feeling like an impostor. Poļikeviča advised that managers should also give their team regular feedback and praise. Kickresume previously found that 51% of employees in Europe said this would help them stop doubting themselves. 

Peter Duris, CEO and Co-Founder of Kickresume, commented: “We really appreciated Lāsma Poļikeviča’s insights in this follow up to our recent survey— both from her coaching experience and the research she shared from academic psychologists. Hopefully the report helps anyone struggling with impostor syndrome understand that these feelings of self-doubt don’t reflect their actual abilities.

“If you’re holding back from challenges because you don’t feel capable, or impostor syndrome is causing you stress, try opening up to your manager or someone you trust. Chances are, they’ve felt the same way—and they might remind you that you’re doing better than you think.”