Name: Self Confidence Tip - What triggers imposter syndrome?
Uploaded: 2025-07-22T18:53:00.000Z
Duration: 2 min 53 s
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Adverbs of manner

Whether we confidently embrace new challenges or feel stifling self-doubt has a lot to do with our own sense of identity, who we are and what we feel we're capable of.

Adverbs of degree

That's why we're so susceptible to imposterism during periods of identity expansion, when we're redefining our sense of self.

Modal verbs - B1

Moments of identity expansion might include transitioning careers, graduating from school, landing your first big management role, or even becoming a parent for the first time.

Now, sometimes we bring ourselves to these moments of identity expansion, like when we pursue a promotion, and sometimes they find us, like in the case of an unforeseen layoff.

But either way, if we don't take concrete action to actively shape our sense of self in these new situations, the environment that we find ourselves in or the people we find ourselves surrounded by can end up making us feel like an imposter by default.

For instance, if you've got a new micromanaging boss who doesn't trust you to handle basic tasks, you might slowly begin to question your judgment and see yourself as less capable too.

If you find yourself in a new relationship with someone who's controlling or who belittles you, you might start to believe those harmful messages as well.

Or if you find yourself telling a self-deprecating joke about a new leadership opportunity, just like how I used to joke that I had just talked my way into my state director position at a young age, you're going to start to believe it.

So when you find yourself struggling with imposterism, ask yourself this, is it really all internal?

Or is my self-doubt related to some external factors in my life and career right now?

Could it simply be a response to feedback I've been given, a transition that I'm navigating, the isolation of being the only woman or person of color in my new environment, a big new risk I'm taking, a change in my role at work?

When we can point out these kinds of external variables that might be contributing to our sense of imposter phenomenon, we can begin to recognize that this is not some personal failing or a medical syndrome of any kind.

Rather, it's an understandable, explainable reaction to my new surroundings.

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Self Confidence Tip - What triggers imposter syndrome?

struggle

susceptible

phenomenon

recognize