How Imposter Syndrome Sabotages Your Success & How to Beat It

Having a dream and not believing you can achieve it is a living hell.

To have ambition for a particular vision of your life and not have the confidence that you can obtain it is a torturous existence. And yet, that’s a regular Tuesday for most people. It’s sad.

They believe they don’t deserve it. So, they’ll never apply themselves to work for their goals.

This tragic situation is the detrimental effect of imposter syndrome: An unfulfilled life.

What Is Imposter Syndrome?

Sun Tzu famously said in his classic book, The Art of War:

To overcome the enemy of imposter syndrome, you need to know what it is.

The dictionary definition of imposter syndrome is as follows:

“the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills.”

Imposter syndrome is a belief that you (unintentionally) planted in your brain and thought about it enough that you cemented your neurological wiring on this topic.

It’s been in you for so long that you feel it’s who you are. You associate your identity with it.

But is that you? No. It’s a part of you, yes. But you can re-wire your brain.

Before we go over that, you must learn the five types of imposter syndrome to dismantle and overcome it effectively.

The 5 Types of Imposter Syndrome

The enemy takes on many forms to conquer your mind.

Without the appropriate defense mechanisms, you can’t retaliate and turn the tables in your favor.

Expert on the subject, Dr. Valerie Young, has categorized imposter syndrome into sub-groups for us to understand our enemy further.

Here are the five forms imposter syndrome inhabits to derail your success:

1. The Perfectionist 

Perfectionism and imposter syndrome often go hand-in-hand.

Perfectionists set excessively high goals for themselves, and when they fail to reach a goal, they experience major self-doubt and worry about measuring up.

Whether they realize it or not, they can be control freaks, feeling like if they want something done right, they have to do it themselves.

2. The Superman/woman

People who experience this phenomenon convinced themselves long ago they’re phonies amongst real-deal colleagues. So, they often push themselves to work harder and harder to measure up.

But this is just a false cover-up for their insecurities, and the work overload may harm not only their mental health but also their relationships with others.

Imposter workaholics are addicted to the validation that comes from working, not the work itself. So, while doing the job, they tend to be miserable. And if the validation never comes–their only source of momentary joy–it’s disastrous.

3. The Natural Genius

Young says people with this competence type believe they need to be a natural “genius.” As such, they judge their competence based on ease and speed instead of their efforts.

In other words, if they take a long time to master something, they feel shame.

These imposters set their internal bar impossibly high, just like perfectionists. But natural genius types don’t just judge themselves based on ridiculous expectations. They judge themselves based on getting things right on the first try.

When they’re not able to do something quickly or fluently, their alarm sounds.

4. The Soloist

Sufferers who feel as though asking for help reveals their phoniness are what Young calls “Soloists.”

These people feel a deep urge to accomplish things independently, without a helping hand. Needing to ask for external help further cements their unworthiness, and they’d rather die than do so.

It’s okay to be independent, but not to the extent that you refuse assistance to prove your worth.

5. The Expert

Experts measure their competence based on “what” and “how much” they know or can do.

Believing they will never know enough, they fear being exposed as inexperienced or unknowledgeable. If this happens, you’ll never know by their face or reactions, but it’ll stew within them for days and sometimes weeks.

The expert types feel a deep gnawing within them that they still don’t (and won’t) know enough. This sensation leads these people to avoid applying for jobs without meeting every criterion and keep buying more courses to expand their knowledge and skills further. It’s never-ending.

How to Defeat the 5 Types of Imposter Syndrome

In this game, we’re playing mental jiu-jitsu.

And in jiu-jitsu, each attack has a strategic counter with the proper leverage. Every attack from imposter syndrome has a counter. 

After you’ve identified which type describes you, you can adequately arm yourself. With enough time and focused work, you can counter the effects of imposter syndrome.

1. The Perfectionist Counter

You will fail many times in life, and that’s okay. Failure is a part of the recipe for success.

Learn to take your mistakes in stride, viewing them as a natural part of the process.

Additionally, push yourself to act before you’re ready. Force yourself to start the project you’ve been planning for months. There will never be the “perfect time,” and your work will never be 100% flawless. The sooner you’re able to accept that, the better off you’ll be.

2. The Superman/woman Counter

Start training yourself to veer away from external validation.

No one should have more power to make you feel good about yourself than you—even your boss when they give your project the stamp of approval.

On the flip side, learn to take constructive criticism seriously, not personally.

As you become more attuned to internal validation and nurture your inner confidence that states you’re competent and skilled, you’ll be able to ease off the gas as you gauge how much work is reasonable.

3. The Natural Genius Counter

To move past this, reframe how you see yourself.

Take the perspective of it being a work in progress.

Accomplishing great things involves lifelong learning and skill-building—for everyone, even the most confident people. Identify specific, changeable behaviors that you can improve over time rather than beating yourself up when you don’t reach your impossibly high standards.

For example, if you want to have more impact at the office, focusing on honing your presentation skills is much more productive than swearing off speaking up in meetings as something you’re “just not good at.”

4. The Soloist Counter

Every book you read was written by someone. All the technology you use was invented by someone. Every facet of your life exists because of other people.

The point I’m making is this: We don’t accomplish anything without the help of others.

Realize there’s no shame in asking for help when you need it. If you don’t know how to do something, ask a co-worker. If you can’t figure out how to solve a problem, seek advice from a supportive supervisor or career coach.

5. The Expert Counter

Indeed, there’s always more to learn.

Upping your skill set can help you make strides professionally and keep you competitive in the job market. But taken too far, the tendency to endlessly seek out more information is a form of procrastination.

Start practicing “just-in-time learning.”

According to Young, this concept means acquiring a skill when needed–for example, if your responsibilities change–rather than hoarding knowledge for (false) comfort.

Mentoring junior colleagues or volunteering can be a great way to discover your inner expertise. When you share what you know, it not only benefits others but also helps you heal your fraudulent feelings.

The Key to Imposter Syndrome Freedom

It’s simple, really: Start thinking new thoughts about yourself.

I’m sure you expected some complex, in-depth answer, but that’s how it all starts. The key to freedom is neuroplasticity.

Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to reorganize information and adapt to different circumstances.

Neuro refers to the neurons in your brain that form specific pathways that help you adjust to your surroundings and anticipate future situations. Plasticity speaks to your brain’s ability to change and interrupt those pathways — influenced by both positive and negative experiences.

Simply, you can re-wire your brain to think differently about you.

Imposter syndrome is nothing more than a thought pattern that’s become a belief through repetition and time. Self-directed neuroplasticity is when you intentionally rewire your brain to create positive habits. People do this primarily through active reflection.

Ideally, you don’t try to do this alone (I’m talking to you soloist types). Lasting neuroplasticity changes yield the best results with the help of a cognitive behavior therapist.

However, if you want to start small before seeking help, Retrain Your Brain is a great book to launch your journey.

The BMM Takeaway

The quest for success is not easy.

You will encounter endless obstacles, setbacks, and enemies. And since we aren’t getting any more time added to life, you must identify these threats and remove them quickly.

Sometimes, the enemy is within us. Imposter syndrome is a great example of an internal threat. It’s a living demon that wreaks havoc on our conviction to achieve our goals–a demon which we give birth to.

But, thankfully, it isn’t permanent. There are ways to change who you are, how you think, and your identity.

It will take time, dedication, and daily practice.

Use the above tactics to overcome this devil and regain your mind to win the war and achieve your desired victory.