Imposter Syndrome: Why You Feel Like a Fraud Despite Your Success

You are sitting in a meeting. Everyone around you is nodding, using big words, and looking confident. You are nodding too, but inside, your stomach is twisting.

A voice in your head whispers: “They are going to find out.” “They are going to realize I don’t know what I’m doing.” “I only got this job because I got lucky / I interviewed well / They were desperate.”

You wait for the tap on the shoulder where security comes to escort you out for being a fake.

This is Imposter Syndrome. And here is the irony: The more successful you are, the louder that voice gets.

In India, where academic and career pressure is immense, this is rampant. Whether you are an IIT graduate, a doctor, or a corporate VP, you might be secretly convinced that you have just “fooled” everyone into thinking you are smart.

It’s Not Humble, It’s Harmful

First, let’s distinguish this from humility. Humility is knowing you have limits. Imposter Syndrome is refusing to acknowledge your strengths.

It is a psychological disconnect. Reality: You have the degree. You did the work. You hit the target. Your Brain: “It was a fluke. I had help. The exam was easy this year.”

You aggressively dismiss evidence of your own competence.

The “Imposter Cycle” (Why It Never Stops)

Why doesn’t success cure it? Why didn’t that last promotion make you feel safe? Because of the Imposter Cycle.

1. The Task: You get a new project.
2. The Panic: “I can’t do this.”
3. The Over-Preparation: You work 14 hours a day to ensure you don’t fail (or you procrastinate out of fear).
4. The Success: You finish the project. It goes well.
5. The Discounting: instead of saying “I did good work,” you say “Phew, I escaped. I just worked hard to cover up my lack of talent.”
6. The Loop: The relief is temporary. The next task brings the fear back instantly.

The 5 Types of Imposters

Dr. Valerie Young identified distinct types. Which one are you?

1. The Perfectionist: If you get 99%, you feel like a failure because you missed the 1%.
2. The Superhuman: You feel you must be the best employee, best parent, and best partner, or you are a fraud. You work late just to prove you measure up.
3. The Natural Genius: If you have to struggle to learn something, you think you aren’t smart. You believe competence should be effortless.
4. The Soloist: You refuse to ask for help because “asking for help reveals I don’t know the answer.”
5. The Expert: You feel you need to know everything before you start. You won’t apply for a job unless you meet 100% of the criteria.

How to Internalize Your Success

You don’t need to “fake it till you make it.” You need to realize you have already made it.

1. Separate Feelings from Facts (The Evidence Log) Imposter Syndrome feeds on feelings. You must fight it with data. Keep a “Brag File” or “Evidence Log.” Every time you get a compliment, finish a task, or solve a problem, write it down. When the voice says “You are stupid,” open the log. Read the facts. It is hard to argue with a spreadsheet of wins.

2. Change Your Definition of “Competence” You think competence means “I know the answer.” That is wrong. In the modern world, competence means “I can FIGURE OUT the answer.” You don’t need to be a walking encyclopedia. You just need to be a resourceful learner. If you don’t know something, saying “I’ll look into that” is a sign of confidence, not weakness.

3. Talk About It (Break the Silence) The shame of feeling like a fraud grows in the dark. Turn to a colleague you trust and say, “Honestly, I have no idea what I’m doing with this project.” 9 times out of 10, they will laugh and say, “Me neither.” Realizing that everyone is figuring it out as they go is incredibly liberating.

Where to Find Confidence?

• Vent the Fear (VentOut): If you are terrified of an upcoming presentation and feel like running away, log onto VentOut. Tell a listener about your fear. Getting the panic out of your system allows your logical brain to take over. Boost Confidence with a Listener
• Test Your Imposter Level (PsychKit): Take the Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale (CIPS). Seeing your feelings validated as a known psychological pattern can be a huge relief. Take the Imposter Syndrome Test
• Deep Work (IndianPsychologists): If this feeling stems from deep-rooted self-worth issues (e.g., parents who only praised grades), a Counselling Psychologist can help you rewrite that internal script. Find a Therapist for Self-Esteem

Final Thought

You are not an imposter. You are a learner. Every CEO, every surgeon, and every artist was once a beginner who didn’t know what they were doing. They just kept showing up. The chair you are sitting in? You earned it. Occupy it fully.

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📚 References & Further Reading

1. Clance, P. R., & Imes, S. A. – The Imposter Phenomenon in High Achieving Women.
2. Young, Valerie – The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women (and Men).
3. Harvard Business Review – Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome.