Impostor syndrome has become a bit of a buzzword, tossed around whenever we doubt ourselves or feel like we don’t belong. While it’s a real experience for many people, I think we’ve started overusing the term to the point that it sometimes loses its meaning.
Let’s start with something uncomfortable: not everything is impostor syndrome. Sometimes, we’re just not good at something—yet. And that’s okay. Feeling like we don’t know what we’re doing doesn’t always mean we’re experiencing impostor syndrome. It might simply mean we don’t know what we’re doing.
The Problem with Overusing the Term
At its core, Impostor syndrome describes the feeling of being a fraud despite clear evidence of competence. It’s when you achieve something significant and still can’t shake the thought that you don’t deserve it. Not every doubt we have falls into this category.
Sometimes, what we’re doubting isn’t tied to success or competence. Maybe we’re stepping into a completely new area where we have no prior experience. Or perhaps we’ve tried something before, and the results didn’t measure up. In these cases, what we feel isn’t impostor syndrome—it’s a perfectly normal recognition that we have room to grow.
Success in One Area Doesn’t Automatically Transfer to Another
Here’s another trap we fall into: thinking that because we’re successful in one area of life, we should automatically excel in everything else. Labeling the resulting self-doubt as impostor syndrome is easy when we don’t. Just because you’ve mastered one skill doesn’t mean you’ll automatically be great at another.
For example, a fantastic software engineer might struggle when stepping into a leadership role. That’s not impostor syndrome. That’s a gap in experience and skills. Success in one area doesn’t guarantee instant competence in another, and acknowledging that isn’t self-doubt. It’s self-awareness.
Accurate Self-Assessment vs. Limiting Beliefs
When we mislabel these experiences as impostor syndrome, we risk missing out on the growth opportunities they present. If you’re genuinely not skilled at something yet, no amount of positive self-talk will make you better at it. What will help is an honest assessment of where you’re at and a willingness to put in the work to improve.
Here’s a helpful way to frame it:
Impostor syndrome: “I’ve done this successfully and still feel like I don’t belong.”
Accurate self-assessment: “I haven’t done this successfully yet, and I feel unsure because I’m still learning.”
One is rooted in irrational doubt, while the other is a realistic acknowledgment of where you are in the learning process.
Embracing Growth Instead of Labels
Not being great at something isn’t a character flaw; it’s just part of being human. And while it’s uncomfortable to feel out of our depth, it’s also an opportunity. When we let go of the need to label every insecurity as impostor syndrome, we can focus on what truly matters: learning, practicing, and growing.
So the next time you feel doubt creeping in, take a moment to ask yourself:
Is this impostor syndrome, or is this an honest reflection of where I am?
What would it take for me to feel more confident in this area?
How can I embrace the discomfort of learning instead of labeling it as something else?
By approaching these moments with curiosity instead of judgment, we can separate what’s impostor syndrome from what’s simply the process of growth. Not everything is impostor syndrome—and that’s a good thing.
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Image created with the assistance of AI using ChatGPT.