"This wasn't a struggling junior employee; this was a leader at the pinnacle of his career, shouldering the same gnawing doubt we often relegate to the inexperienced. For decades, we've called this "impostor syndrome," treating it as a personal flaw to be fixed. But groundbreaking research reveals we've been thinking about it all wrong-and in correcting our misunderstanding, we find not just relief but unexpected advantage."
"When Stephen Curry, the NBA superstar widely considered the greatest shooter in basketball history, confesses to suffering from impostor syndrome, you know the concept has gone mainstream. A cottage industry of self-help books and leadership workshops has sprung up to help people "fix" this problem within themselves. But what if this entire framework is based on a set of misconceptions?"
New evidence debunks four myths that have distorted understanding of impostor syndrome. Definitions have been inconsistent, leading to pathologizing common, situational doubt. Impostor thoughts frequently function as temporary signals of growth rather than indicators of a stable personal flaw. Doubt can counter overconfidence and improve empathy, collaboration, and decision-making. High achievers, including senior leaders and celebrities, commonly report these feelings. Leaders should treat impostor feelings as diagnostic signals of organizational culture and psychological safety, addressing systemic factors rather than focusing solely on individual remediation. Normalizing candid feedback, fostering psychological safety, and reframing doubt as adaptive can convert discomfort into organizational advantage.
Read at Psychology Today
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