Is It Imposter Syndrome or Incompetence?

On the outside, all they see is confidence. But in the pit of your stomach is an aching question: “Am I good enough?”

The tough reality is that sometimes we aren’t good enough. Maybe there are skills we’re missing, or a task just doesn’t play to our strengths, or the standards are so high that even though we do have skill, we aren’t good enough.

But then other times, that niggly feeling in your gut is simply self-doubt. Maybe you’re in unfamiliar territory, or feeling a lot of pressure, or something is just missing. Maybe you believe that if you really knew what you were doing, you would feel confident. And since you don’t feel confident, you’re clearly not qualified.

This kind of thing is always tricky, but even more so in the professional realm. Our jobs push us out of our comfort zones in lots of ways (for better and for worse). They put a spotlight on us, with colleagues and bosses observing our every move. Most of the learning you’ll do in your adult life will be related to your career (PDF), which means you’ll often be put in a position where you start out less than fully qualified and perhaps feeling like an outsider. 

If you’re an ambitious person with career goals, this dread that you aren’t good enough is inevitably going to crop up at least once in a while. Sometimes it will be caused by a true gap in your current skills. Other times, it will be caused by what experts call imposter syndrome.

So let’s figure out how to interpret this state of mind and deal with it when it starts to creep in.

What is imposter syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is that nagging feeling you get when, despite your achievements, you secretly think you don’t deserve any your success. It’s the inner voice that says, “I got lucky,” or “Anyone could’ve done this,” instead of acknowledging your hard work and skills. 

That voice makes you doubt yourself, even when everyone around you believes in your abilities. It’s like you’re always waiting for someone to expose you as being an imposter who is faking it and doesn’t deserve to be respected for their accomplishments—even when there’s plenty of proof that you are capable and successful.

The concept of imposter syndrome has been around for about 50 years, since Dr. Pauline Clance and Dr. Suzanne Imes coined the phrase “imposter phenomenon” in a study on high-achieving women in 1978 (PDF). Their research found that many women doubted their accomplishments, even when they had plenty of evidence to the contrary, and had fears that they would be exposed as frauds with a “lack of talent”. 

But this isn’t just something that women deal with. Since that first groundbreaking research was published, quite a few studies have confirmed that imposter syndrome can affect anyone. In fact, experts estimate that 70% of people will experience imposter syndrome at some point in their careers, regardless of gender, race, or how successful they are.

Imposter Syndrome Versus Lack of Skill

So we know that, at least some of the time, imposter syndrome is to blame for our self-doubt. 

But other times, if you’re feeling insecure in your abilities, there’s a very logical reason why. You might be observing a real gap in your skills. If that’s the case, we commend you! That kind of self-awareness is fantastic, because it shows exactly where you need to focus in order to grow professionally.

We want you to know that neither of these possibilities is “bad”. Neither is a threat to your career or who you are as a professional. It’s just important to know the difference so you know how to move forward.

Even though they might feel quite similar, there are major differences between a true skills gap and imposter syndrome:

Imposter Syndrome

Even though you’ve studied it, you still have doubts

You do have the needed abilities, but you feel like a fraud

You do have the relevant experience, but it’s still hard to feel confident

You’ve achieved success, but still downplay it and attribute it to luck or outside factors

Others are admiring your work, but you privately doubt your own abilities

Your dissatisfaction with your work is vague and hard to pin down

You perform well, but still don’t feel like it’s enough

Even if you receive lots of positive feedback, you get fixated on minor criticism

There could be a few other factors at play. Research shows that imposter syndrome is more common in individualistic cultures (like the United States), because there’s such a strong emphasis on personal achievement. Imposter syndrome is common among groups that experience a lot of negative stereotypes (like women and minorities). 

Imposter syndrome is also more common among immigrants and first-generation professionals. So if you’re planning to work for U.S. companies or move to the United States, you’ll definitely want to know what to look for and how to handle it.

Ten Questions to Ask Yourself

When you’re being bombarded by doubts and insecurities, it can be hard to feel like you have an clear, objective view of things. Try using these questions to ground yourself in reality. Take a minute to really think about each one. 

1. Have I successfully completed a similar task before?
2. Do I have the knowledge and resources to get this work done?
3. Have others given me positive feedback on my work in this area?
4. Is this something I’m familiar with?
5. Am I feeling afraid of making mistakes or being “found out”?
6. Have I prepared adequately for this work?
7. Am I avoiding this task even though I know I’m qualified?
8. Do I feel confident in other similar areas, but not this one?
9. Have I seen others, who have the same level of experience as me, succeed at this task?
10. Am I reacting emotionally (maybe out of anxiety or frustration) more than logically in this situation?

If most of your answers are “Yes”, you’re probably experiencing imposter syndrome.

If most of your answers are “No”, you’re probably dealing with a gap in your skills.

If it’s imposter syndrome, what’s next?

If most of your answers pointed to imposter syndrome, the issue isn’t your skills, but rather your perception of them. 

Ironically, even though you’re starting from a better place as far as your successes, skills, and performance go, you might actually find this issue trickier to solve. It’s often harder to build confidence in what you’ve already got than to learn something new.

Here’s how you can overcome it:

Acknowledge your successes: Start by going out of your way to recognize your achievements (at least in private). Keep a list of your successes, big or small, and remind yourself of them whenever self-doubt creeps in. 

Reframe negative thoughts: Don’t be shy about talking back to the doubts when they suggest something that’s objectively false. If you catch yourself thinking, “I don’t belong” or “I’m not good enough,” remind yourself that your past success wasn’t a fluke and that you’ve earned your place.

Accept compliments and feedback with grace: When someone praises your work, don’t dismiss it as luck or kindness. Take it as valid feedback that reflects your true abilities. Over time, this will help shift your mindset.

Focus on taking action: Even if you feel uncertain, start working on the task at hand. The more you accomplish, the more evidence you’ll have of your competence, and the more your confidence will grow.

Talk about it: Share your feelings of self-doubt with someone you trust. Imposter syndrome is everywhere, and talking about it can help you realize that you’re not alone—and that your thoughts might not reflect reality.

Imposter syndrome isn’t forever. With a bit of effort and discipline, you can adopt a new attitude toward your abilities. It’ll be worth it—after all, you deserve to enjoy your success!

If it’s a missing skill, what’s next?

If your answers pointed toward a missing skill, all this means is that you’re lacking the knowledge or experience needed for the task at hand. That’s actually great news! Simply by realizing the gap exists, you’re well on your way to addressing the issue.

Here’s how to go about it:

Identify where and how you want to grow: Pinpoint where the gap is. Is it a technical skill, knowledge of a certain process, or understanding of a specific tool? Knowing the exact area to improve will help you focus your efforts.

Seek out training and learning resources: Once you can see the gap, look for resources to close it. This might include online courses, tutorials, workshops, or mentoring from someone with more experience in the area.

Ask for help: Don’t hesitate to reach out to colleagues or mentors who can offer guidance. Getting a second opinion or learning from someone with more expertise can really speed up your learning process.

Practice and apply what you learn: The best way to bridge a skills gap is through practice. Apply what you’re learning to small, manageable tasks. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll feel in that area.

Set realistic goals for improvement: Growth takes time. Set some achievable milestones to track your progress as you build your skills. Celebrate small wins along the way, and remember that the fact that you’re learning means that you’re growing as a professional and as a person. 

We’re firm believers in lifelong learning. You are absolutely capable of growing your skills to help advance your career, meet your goals, and fulfill your potential. It’ll take some work, but the rewards are worth it.

Conclusion

Whether you’re facing imposter syndrome or a true skills gap, keep in mind that both are challenges that can be overcome with a little time, effort, and the right mindset. If it’s imposter syndrome, work on changing how you see yourself. If it’s a skills gap, focus on acquiring the knowledge you need to succeed. 

You’ve got this!