Debunking Imposter Syndrome as a Women's Issue 

Episode 491 | Author: Emilie Aries

Recent research reveals interesting findings about people who experience self-doubt at work.

Imposter syndrome—or impostorism, as I prefer to call it—is a common topic of conversation in professional circles, and with good reason. So many people resonate with feeling like frauds who sweet-talked their way into their position and could be found out, socially ostracized, and fired at any moment.

For as long as it’s been a hot topic, impostorism has also been dubbed a women’s issue. When I give talks and workshops about this topic, I always stress this isn’t the case. Recently, some pretty robust research provided some new, rather surprising numbers supporting that. In this episode, I explore the real facts behind this widespread feeling of not belonging.

Why was impostorism ever a “women’s issue”?

Women have been at the center of this conversation from the start for one simple reason: the initial research was done exclusively on undergraduate women.

It makes sense that feelings linked with a lack of belonging and ostracism would show up most often in marginalized groups who are most likely to actively encounter these experiences in a variety of settings—groups that include women. However, research that followed that initial women-focused study confirmed that 70% of people of all demographics encounter imposterism at some point in their careers. 

The latest research from Korn Ferry

In their Workforce 2024 Report, the consulting firm Korn Ferry asked 10,000 professionals worldwide about imposter syndrome. Even if we acknowledge that this is a human issue, not a women’s issue, the findings are surprising: 49% of men report experiencing imposter syndrome compared to 44% of women. 

This startling revelation comes with data supporting previous findings about impostorism: 71% of American CEOs checked the “yes” box. Furthermore, the report finds that people in the U.S. and India are much more likely to have this experience than those in the UK, Brazil, and Australia.

In addition to raising some questions about how deeply certain countries link career success with self-worth, all this seems to support impostorism being linked not to gender but to periods of growth both early in our careers and later, as we move into higher-pressure, more visible positions. When we expand our working identities and how we see ourselves, we tend to get hit with a hardy dose of the “not good enoughs.”

It’s also a good reminder that experiencing impostorism isn’t a personal failing or a sign to overhaul your confidence. Rather, it probably indicates you’re doing something courageous.

Reading between the research lines

Finally, there’s a different takeaway from this research other than that men are more likely to experience impostorism than women.

Here’s one more statistic: men run 90% of Fortune 500 companies. Given that nine out of ten people in senior leadership roles are men, it’s more likely that impostorism is a senior leadership issue that is about the pressure you're under at work and not your gender. Just some food for thought.

What’s your experience with impostorism or imposter syndrome? Do these recent findings shock you or support what you already suspected? Drop by the Courage Community on Facebook or join us in our group on LinkedIn to share your thoughts.

Related Links From Today’s Episode:

The original research on imposter syndrome

Korn Ferry’s Workforce 2024 study

Fortune, The Share of Fortune 500 Businesses Run By Women Can’t Seem to Budge Beyond 10%

Harvard Business Review, Women Rising: The Unseen Barriers

Episode 425, The Gender Confidence Gap Myth

LEVEL UP: a Leadership Accelerator for Women on the Rise

Emilie’s book, “Bossed Up”

Bossed Up Courage Community

Bossed Up LinkedIn Group

Learn to kick impostorism and other leadership pitfalls
to the curb as you LEVEL UP:

Previous
Previous

The Power To Work Happier

Next
Next

How Do We Unlearn Silence and Voice Our Worth?