Imposter Syndrome

[98elise]

Dylano said:

gangzoom said:

I suspect you don't have this syndrome.......I'm in the same club, after it was pointed out to me quite bluntly.

Believe me you'd have to go a long way to find someone who is more introspective, self analytical and generally lacking in confidence in one's own ability than me... I just don't understand why "Imposter Syndrome" is a psychological condition in its own right.

Because it conveys the specific nature of a condition without having to describe all the symptoms every time. Same goes for General Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder etc. Its similar symptoms but with different triggers. If it's debilitating then treatment involves dealing or coping with the triggers.

[CheesecakeRunner]

Dylano said:

Believe me you'd have to go a long way to find someone who is more introspective, self analytical and generally lacking in confidence in one's own ability than me... I just don't understand why "Imposter Syndrome" is a psychological condition in its own right.

Then just be glad you don’t suffer from it, rather than trying to invalidate the experiences of those who do.

[VTC]

you could try a forum username change to:
from losing to Geta.

Self doubt will be destructive, you state you achieved well in exams etc

tell yourself " i know this" daily build up more and more confidence.

Did anyone in your childhood put self doubt in your mind ?

As for being found out
a load of people inc police are just trying to get by day to day, in a climate where everything is questioned
second guessed, do the best you know how to and develop, maybe look at promotion or different avenues in the police,
a good mate went from village bobby to Firearms/anti terrorist and loves his work.

[ben_h100]

I’ve experienced this at least once in my career (armed forces). I tend to be the over-analytical, self critical type, however now I’m fairly comfortable with most situations.

I’m certain that having a child has chilled me out from a work/professional perspective. Situations that would previously generate a degree of anxiety simply don’t worry me any more. I’m still as driven/ambitious as before, but I realise that at the end of the day, it’s only work and most people are blagging it.

SDI (strength deployment inventory) is a great tool and may highlight some traits that you aren’t aware of, whilst giving you tips as to how you improve/enhance your interactions with others in a professional context.

[Chicken Chaser]

It's easy to look at others and think they know what they're doing when they might also be thinking they're also just waiting to be found out. I admit my time on response I felt like a fish out of water, much because there are so many grey areas and when you're new and young, a lot of your early experiences form templates for how you deal with things afterwards. The training is inadequate to cover such a huge spectrum of potential incidents and outcomes and unless you have a supportive supervision and a decent trainer/mentor then sometimes you don't know whether you're doing it right or not. For some jobs I had to go to specialist units just to ask their advice on areas I wasn't used to covering.

I actually found being a specialist a much more defined role, better trained and therefore felt more comfortable with what I was doing. I had a few roles, one in particular highly specialised which had more than policing elements to understand. I felt very much an imposter to begin with, probably for about 3 years if I'm honest, but grew into it, started getting some really good results and through hard work then became an instructor in it. Once id reached a certain level, I found I was actually more adept than those I'd looked up to at the beginning and results backed it up. I then started that imposter thing all over again because I've never seen myself as someone who could teach others.

Sometimes you need to give yourself a pat on the back although your own self deprecation can make it hard to do so.

[rustyuk]

Just remember that Matt Hancock was health minister and Boris PM during the biggest World event since WWIi

[-BFG-]

I had imposter syndrome for a good six months when I started my current role.

Too good to be true, just had to keep reminding myself I know what I’m doing, the business are happy as they offered me the job..

Edited by -BFG- on Monday 27th March 08:12

[marksx]

This is something I can very much relate to.

I've always felt like I've lucked my way through life and some day it's all going to fall apart around me. I dropped out of sixth form, packed in part way through an engineering hnd, dropped out of a supply chain degree, yet I've found myself as a supply chain manager at a pharmaceutical company and very recently changed to project manager for new business products. Other than a PRINCE2 qualification I've no idea how to do this and I'm pretty much winging it. It feels like I'm probably doing it wrong, and that I'll be found out.

Best and simplest way I can describe it is i feel like a kid in a grown ups world.

[Dylano]

marksx said:

This is something I can very much relate to.

I've always felt like I've lucked my way through life and some day it's all going to fall apart around me. I dropped out of sixth form, packed in part way through an engineering hnd, dropped out of a supply chain degree, yet I've found myself as a supply chain manager at a pharmaceutical company and very recently changed to project manager for new business products. Other than a PRINCE2 qualification I've no idea how to do this and I'm pretty much winging it. It feels like I'm probably doing it wrong, and that I'll be found out.

Best and simplest way I can describe it is i feel like a kid in a grown ups world.

Well that doesn't sound like you suffer from apparent "Imposter Syndrome"... from everything you've said that sounds like you genuinely don't have the experience, qualifications or skill set to adequately perform the role you've somehow found yourself in and you really are just winging it and blagging it?

[skinnyman]

I think everyone suffers this to a degree, I certainly do. I'm a CMM programmer, but for the past 15yrs I've used a single piece of software to program every specific parts, so as soon as I'd need to use different software on different components I'd be "found out", which I think is the reason why I've remained in the same role for 15yrs. I'm also cautious of falling for the green grass. I work in a decent team, I have a good manager, flexible working conditions etc, so I'm always worried of shaking things up.

[craigjm]

gangzoom said:

Dylano said:

I struggle to see how "Imposter Syndrome" is any different to just generally having low self esteem or lacking in self confidence or suffering with a degree of anxiety?

But I suppose every psychological condition has to have it's own trendy and specific niche label these days.

I suspect you don't have this syndrome.......I'm in the same club, after it was pointed out to me quite bluntly.

To be fair nobody has the “syndrome” as it’s not clinical and it’s not a disease or a disorder. The original research that came up with it called it imposter phenomenon because it is an observed situation. People started calling it a “syndrome” when the media etc started to get hold of what is a serious psychological study and making it into something it isn’t.

[marksx]

Dylano said:

marksx said:

This is something I can very much relate to.

I've always felt like I've lucked my way through life and some day it's all going to fall apart around me. I dropped out of sixth form, packed in part way through an engineering hnd, dropped out of a supply chain degree, yet I've found myself as a supply chain manager at a pharmaceutical company and very recently changed to project manager for new business products. Other than a PRINCE2 qualification I've no idea how to do this and I'm pretty much winging it. It feels like I'm probably doing it wrong, and that I'll be found out.

Best and simplest way I can describe it is i feel like a kid in a grown ups world.

Well that doesn't sound like you suffer from apparent "Imposter Syndrome"... from everything you've said that sounds like you genuinely don't have the experience, qualifications or skill set to adequately perform the role you've somehow found yourself in and you really are just winging it and blagging it?

I must be doing something right as I was supply chain manager for 4 years and they approached me to take on the project manager role

[StevieBee]

Dylano said:

I struggle to see how "Imposter Syndrome" is any different to just generally having low self esteem or lacking in self confidence or suffering with a degree of anxiety?

But I suppose every psychological condition has to have it's own trendy and specific niche label these days.

Just because things have been given a name does not mean they never existed or were equally troublesome in the past.

Imposter Syndrome is very different to Self Esteem and Confidence issues, although it can become those things. Generally though, unlike those things, it can be a force for good because it affords a framework of expectation to which one can work to attach themselves to. It stops complacency and forces one to up one's game to fit the space that you've created for yourself.

[98elise]

rustyuk said:

Just remember that Matt Hancock was health minister and Boris PM during the biggest World event since WWIi

They were the opposite. They were the only ones thinking they did a great job!

[98elise]

craigjm said:

gangzoom said:

Dylano said:

I struggle to see how "Imposter Syndrome" is any different to just generally having low self esteem or lacking in self confidence or suffering with a degree of anxiety?

But I suppose every psychological condition has to have it's own trendy and specific niche label these days.

I suspect you don't have this syndrome.......I'm in the same club, after it was pointed out to me quite bluntly.

To be fair nobody has the “syndrome” as it’s not clinical and it’s not a disease or a disorder. The original research that came up with it called it imposter phenomenon because it is an observed situation. People started calling it a “syndrome” when the media etc started to get hold of what is a serious psychological study and making it into something it isn’t.

Agreed but it's certainly a state of mind, just not one that normally needs medical help. If it became that bad it would probably be treated as social anxiety disorder.

[StevieBee]

98elise said:

craigjm said:

gangzoom said:

Dylano said:

I struggle to see how "Imposter Syndrome" is any different to just generally having low self esteem or lacking in self confidence or suffering with a degree of anxiety?

But I suppose every psychological condition has to have it's own trendy and specific niche label these days.

I suspect you don't have this syndrome.......I'm in the same club, after it was pointed out to me quite bluntly.

To be fair nobody has the “syndrome” as it’s not clinical and it’s not a disease or a disorder. The original research that came up with it called it imposter phenomenon because it is an observed situation. People started calling it a “syndrome” when the media etc started to get hold of what is a serious psychological study and making it into something it isn’t.

Agreed but it's certainly a state of mind, just not one that normally needs medical help. If it became that bad it would probably be treated as social anxiety disorder.

According to Cambridge University Press, there are three definitions of syndrome, one of which is: 'A type of negative behaviour or mental state that is typical of a person in a particular situation'. So according to this, the use of the word is appropriate.

[Hugo Stiglitz]

LosingGrip said:

Interesting that you have suspected autism...I've almost certainly got it myself. My ex has it as well and often felt the same about her job...

Don't rush into promotion. Trust me, that joy for the job evaporates fast.

As for the police, it's a very odd place. No one wants to show any weakness. It's all about what you portray (sadly).

The fact that you've revealed some self introspective says to me that you're a good officer.

[craigjm]

StevieBee said:

98elise said:

craigjm said:

gangzoom said:

Dylano said:

I struggle to see how "Imposter Syndrome" is any different to just generally having low self esteem or lacking in self confidence or suffering with a degree of anxiety?

But I suppose every psychological condition has to have it's own trendy and specific niche label these days.

I suspect you don't have this syndrome.......I'm in the same club, after it was pointed out to me quite bluntly.

To be fair nobody has the “syndrome” as it’s not clinical and it’s not a disease or a disorder. The original research that came up with it called it imposter phenomenon because it is an observed situation. People started calling it a “syndrome” when the media etc started to get hold of what is a serious psychological study and making it into something it isn’t.

Agreed but it's certainly a state of mind, just not one that normally needs medical help. If it became that bad it would probably be treated as social anxiety disorder.

According to Cambridge University Press, there are three definitions of syndrome, one of which is: 'A type of negative behaviour or mental state that is typical of a person in a particular situation'. So according to this, the use of the word is appropriate.

A dictionary is not the medical / psychological definition though. I only mention it because I have a couple of psychologist doctor friends and talk of imposter syndrome drives them mad. It was called a phenomenon when first raised and the originators Clance and Imes also are on record saying it’s not a syndrome

Anyway, regardless, what I find interesting about it is that the original study and talk amongst non psychologists focuses on work. You are just as likely to experience the “phenomenon” in social situations and in your relationships but for some reason people don’t always join the dots. If you feel like that at work, look at other areas of your life.

[bmwmike]

More decades than i care to mention in cyber security and i still constantly get imposter syndrome. Its an odd industry with so many pathways in, and in some areas, longevity can be a hindrance.

I've long since rationalised it that its good to second guess and to doubt oneself. I saw a diagram a while back, which showed four stages of expertise. At the start you believe you know it all, you're ignorant of what you don't know. As you grow into a knowledge domain (job, skillset, whatever) you gain more realisation that you know a lot less than you thought you did. As you grow further, you realise how much there is to know to become an expert. Eventually at stage four, you realise you can't ever be an expert in your own head / benchmark because you realise there is just too much to learn, but you become adept at finding info.

So the question is are you stage 2 or stage 4 lol.

I've think its good to respect the doubts, and more importantly not to be afraid to ask "stupid" questions or questions that you, at your level, "should" know. Sometimes the answers might surprise you.

[LosingGrip]

Thanks for all the replies . It’s reassuring that it’s fairly common to feel like this!