Imposter Syndrome: Which of These 9 Types Are You?

“I feel like an imposter.”

“I don’t deserve my success.”

“I’m not who they think I am.”

Have you ever said these phrases to yourself? If so, you might have a case of Imposter Syndrome. And you aren’t alone—studies^{1 https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ782339} have found that 70 percent of all people feel like imposters at one time or another.

In this article, I’m going to talk about imposter syndrome so you can recognize the signs and take the steps you need to heal.
I also got a chance to interview Dr. Kevin Cokley^{2 http://www.kevincokley.com/} . He’s a Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and author of The Myth of Black Anti-Intellectualism^{3 https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Black-Anti-Intellectualism-Psychology-Practical/dp/1440831564} . Watch our fascinating interview on imposter syndrome below:

Here’s a quick summary: Imposter Syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where people feel undeserving of their achievements and fear being exposed as frauds—but it’s normal to feel this way! There are various types of imposters, such as perfectionists, natural geniuses, and rugged individualists, that we may tend to characterize. To help combat imposter syndrome, there are methods such as the Coué Method, which embraces public vulnerability, adopts a growth mindset, and more.

What is Impostor Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon in which you feel you don’t deserve your accomplishments. You might feel like you don’t belong, don’t deserve your success, or are “out of place.” You might even be constantly worried others will expose you as a fraud.

People with imposter syndrome are unable to internalize success. For example, an actor may have earned all sorts of awards, naming them Actor of the Year, but still cannot shake an inner sense of feeling like a fraud.

They might think these awards are all just luck or that they managed to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes the last few years but will soon be found out as nothing more than a fraud.

Where other people receive positive feedback that makes them feel good about themselves and confident in their abilities, a person with imposter syndrome perceives praise from others as an overestimation of their abilities rather than an accurate reflection.

Do You Have Imposter Syndrome? Take This Test

If this sounds like something you can relate to, look at our imposter quiz below and answer yes or no for each question:

• ____ Do you ever feel you don’t deserve your achievements?
• ____ Do you ever worry that people will discover you are secretly unworthy?
• ____ After a success, do you dismiss it as just good luck or timing?
• ____ Do you think you have tricked others into thinking you are more successful than you are?
• ____ Do you apologize for yourself even if you didn’t do anything wrong?
• ____ Do you think others overvalue your success?

If you answered yes to more than two of these, you might be experiencing imposter syndrome.

This quiz can only give basic insight into your potential imposter syndrome. If you are struggling, it might be worth seeing a therapist to get a formal assessment and treatment plan.

The 9 Types of Imposters

People who have imposter syndrome aren’t all the same. Imposter syndrome expert Dr. Valerie Young^{4 http://impostorsyndrome.com/} found there are 5 types of imposters. Take a look below and see which type best describes you:

The Perfectionist

The Perfectionist focuses on how something should be done—they want 110% from any project or assignment, each and every time. However, imposter syndrome kicks into gear when these standards are unmet.

If you’re a perfectionist, these characteristics might apply to you:

• You always hold yourself to the highest standard.
• You’re sometimes accused of being a micromanager.
• Even if you deliver a successful presentation, you’ll kick yourself because you forgot one minor detail.
• You never settle for less than gold; anything else is a failure.

Imposter Fix: To overcome your perfectionism, try the GEQ Method.

GEQ stands for “Good Enough Quality.” In other words, it’s better to hand in something good rather than strive for the best. Perfectionists want to spend more time preparing, so you’ve got to break that cycle with action.

Embrace being nonperfect with these actions:

• Imperfect Affirmation: Whenever you’re feeling like a perfectionist, keep a positive affirmation in mind. Try “It’s OK to be 75% done and not 100%” or “It’s better to do it well now than wait and do it perfectly later.” Repeat this affirmation daily, or choose from our list of positive affirmations.
• Incomplete Drawing: Take out a pen and paper and start drawing with an idea in mind. It could be a person, your home, or even a musical instrument. Set a timer for 2 minutes and start drawing! Aim to get as much detail as possible, but don’t draw too quickly. At the end of your timer, take a look at your drawing. If you didn’t finish, great! This exercise aims to embrace your unfinished work with complete acceptance.
• Realistic Goals: Do you keep a list of your goals? If you do, take a look at them. Are they realistic, or are you overachieving? Try to be realistic with yourself and your deadlines. Head over to our Goal Setting article to narrow your goals.

The Natural Genius

Do you think you should always be smart, fast learner, or excel at everything you’re taught? Then you might be a Natural Genius.

It’s often people who are hard workers, high achievers, and perfectionists who are most likely to feel like frauds. Natural geniuses tend to look at the pros in their field and wonder: Why am I not there yet?

They often don’t realize there’s a mid-stage process called learning that takes beginners to the pro level, so when faced with setbacks, they usually question their competency.

Natural geniuses share these traits:

• They believe people are born talented or skilled.
• They get frustrated easily and may quickly switch from one hobby to another.
• They see everyone around them as achieving success while they are the only ones failing.

Imposter Fix: To overcome your genius complex, cultivate a growth mindset.

A growth mindset is the belief that you can improve your abilities, skills, and talents with effort. The opposite is a fixed mindset, which believes people are born with talents or skills rather than earn them.

When you have a growth mindset, you’ll start believing in the power of concentrated effort toward your goals. Check out more about the growth mindset here.

The Over-Planner

The Over-Planner type of imposter syndrome is seen in individuals who must meticulously plan every detail of their work to prevent exposure as fraud. They believe that the only way to avoid failure and maintain their facade of competence is through exhaustive planning and control over every aspect of a task.

This can lead to choice paralysis, where the fear of making a mistake or overlooking something results in inaction or excessive delay.

Characteristics of an Over-Planner:

• Finds comfort in extensive lists, spreadsheets, and detailed plans for all projects.
• Experiences anxiety at the thought of deviating from a plan or having to improvise.
• Often misses deadlines or opportunities due to over-preparation and hesitation to act.

Imposter Fix: For Over-Planners, the challenge is to embrace flexibility and accept that not every aspect of work or life can (or should) be controlled. Setting strict daily or weekly limits for planning time and adopting a “good enough” approach for minor tasks can start to shift this mindset.

Example: Emily, a project manager, realized her over-planning was holding her team back. For their next project, she set a personal rule: no more than two hours of planning for tasks that previously would have taken her a full day to map out. At first, it was uncomfortable, and she worried about dropping the ball. However, the project not only met its deadline but exceeded expectations.

Emily discovered that her team appreciated the increased trust and autonomy, and she felt a significant decrease in her imposter syndrome symptoms, recognizing that her value extended beyond her ability to plan.

The Expert

Experts strive for more—more knowledge, more experience, and more awards. Even if they have success and fame in their expertise, they think they don’t have enough.

In fact, the original term “imposter phenomenon” was coined in 1978 from examining professionally accomplished women who constantly felt underachieving and were just fooling others.

Experts strive to be perfect because they want to please others. They feel like an imposter because there’s always someone better out there.

If you’re an expert imposter, like me, you might relate to the following:

• You tend to prepare yourself fully by diving into books, courses, training, etc., before attempting a big project or presentation.
• You avoid applying for jobs because you don’t meet all the qualifications.
• Even if you’ve been teaching or working for years, you still feel like you’re not enough.

Imposter Fix: Experts should recognize there’s never an end to knowledge! So, instead of always accumulating more knowledge/skills, try to accumulate them only when needed.

This means focusing 100% on accumulating one skill instead of dividing your attention to learn everything. For example, suppose you’re interested in computer programming, leadership training, and engineering skills, but you will be promoted to a manager position soon. In that case, it’s probably a good idea to focus 100% on leadership training now.

The Rugged Individualist

The Rugged Individualist believes they can do everything themselves and prefer to do things without asking for help. They believe asking others is a sign of weakness—after all, shouldn’t they know what they’re doing?

As a rugged individualist, you:

• feel like you need more time for prep
• prefer solo projects versus group tasks
• don’t ask for help, even if you need it

Imposter Fix: It may be hard, but the problem of not asking others may be because you haven’t found the right people. Ask yourself: “Who are the top 5 people I spend the most time with?” If they are dream builders and not crushers, you’d naturally want to learn from them.

I recommend joining a mastermind or other support group to find incredible people from whom you’d want to seek advice.

The Chameleon

The Chameleon type of imposter syndrome manifests in individuals who constantly adjust their behaviors, opinions, and work methods to fit what they perceive as the expectations of those around them.

They fear that showing their true self or capabilities will lead to exposure as fraud. This adaptability (often seen in ambiverts), while a strength in moderate doses, can lead to a loss of personal identity and a constant fear of being discovered as an “imposter” when they can’t conform perfectly to every expectation.

Characteristics of a Chameleon:

• Frequently changes viewpoints or professional interests based on peer or supervisor opinions.
• Struggles to identify or maintain a consistent work style or area of expertise.
• Feels like a fraud when receiving accolades, attributing success to having successfully “mimicked” someone else rather than their skill.

Imposter Fix: The goal for Chameleons is to cultivate and trust in their voice and expertise, understanding that authenticity breeds true competence and connection. Encouraging self-reflection on personal core values and strengths can help ground their sense of self.

The Superwoman/Man

The Superwoman or Superman loves to take on more responsibility. They have difficulty saying no and often work harder than their peers. A superwoman or superman often juggles many tasks at once, even to the point of over-exhaustion.

Here are signs you may be a superwoman/man:

• You juggle multiple tasks at once—work, chores, school, side business, etc.
• You often work overtime, even past your normal team’s working hours.
• You neglect your friends, family, or hobbies to work more.

Imposter Fix: Chances are, if you’re running in super mode, you’re also a people pleaser. You strive to do good not only for yourself but for others. You want to impress, and taking on extra responsibility is your idea.

Check out our article on how to stop people-pleasing as well!

The Solo Achiever

The Solo Achiever is the type who feels they must accomplish everything on their own to prove their worth. Unlike the Rugged Individualist who prefers solo work out of a belief that asking for help is a weakness, the Solo Achiever thinks that their achievements only count if they are the sole architect of their success.

This mindset can make every success feel unearned unless achieved entirely independently, feeding into the cycle of Imposter Syndrome.

If you resonate with being a Solo Achiever, you might recognize these signs:

• You struggle to accept help or collaboration, fearing it dilutes the value of your achievements.
• You often work in isolation, convinced that involving others will reveal your incapabilities.
• Even when you complete a project successfully, you discount its value if anyone else contributed, however minimally.

Imposter Fix: The key for Solo Achievers is to embrace collaboration as an enhancement, not a detractor, from success. Of course, this takes time.

Practice delegating small tasks and acknowledging the contributions of others to your work, seeing them as complementary to your abilities rather than replacements. This can help shift the belief that worthiness comes from solitary achievement to a more balanced view.

The Over-Planner

How to Deal With Imposter Syndrome in 6 Steps

Now, let’s look at my top 6 tips for beating ALL types of imposter syndrome.

The Coué Method

Want to change how you talk to yourself? Who better to ask than Émile Coué, psychologist and father of the Coué Method?

The Coué Method is a way to change your self-talk to guide your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and can be done in 3 simple steps:

1. Choose an anti–imposter syndrome phrase, such as a positive affirmation or personalized phrase that helps you break out of imposter syndrome. My go-to phrase is “I got this!” or “Small wins.”
2. Choose your safe space where you’re free from distraction. Your safe space can be as simple as a small cushion in the corner of your room. I love being in nature and find the awe and the oxygen calm me. When I am in full-blown imposter syndrome, I walk or sit outside, no matter the time of day.
3. Choose a mental image. This part is key—you want to choose your unique mental “image” you can visualize and associate with your chosen expression. Whenever you think of this image, you’ll be reminded of your unique expression. I like to picture a butterfly mentally, as it symbolizes freedom and happiness. Repeat your phrase while visualizing your image. Try this for just a couple of minutes twice a day. 

Over time, your brain will become more hardwired to believe your thoughts.

So, if you’re always thinking you’re an imposter, try this method for a couple of weeks and notice how your inner imposter syndrome slowly fades away.

It certainly helped with my imposter syndrome!

Pro Tip: If you hear yourself say, “Oh, I don’t deserve this” or “It was just luck,” pause and note in your head or journal that you are having these imposter syndrome thoughts. Then, repeat your phrase and visualize your image. Visualize when you catch yourself saying something negative. Visualize before speaking events. Visualize before a meeting. These will all help to reinforce the Coué Method.

“Go Mad” for 30 Minutes

I don’t know you, but I can promise you that you are not as weird as you think. You are human, and we all have good bits and not-so-good bits. 

All of us have parts that we hide from most people. 

Part of imposter syndrome is uncovering the issues that give you imposter syndrome in the first place—the parts of you that you feel you are hiding from others. It might sound counterproductive, but facing these issues head-on can be a positive way to tackle them. 

To do this, get a piece of paper and a pen and write down everything you are trying to hide: your most ridiculous beliefs, the worst parts of your character, and all the things about you that make you feel like a fraud.

While this exercise won’t help eliminate these bad things, externalizing them can help you put them into perspective and feel better about them.

It will feel like a weight off your chest.

If you’re feeling brave, you could even share these with a close friend who might be able to talk to you about some of your thoughts. For example, you might write that you feel selfish because you don’t visit an elderly relative as often as you feel you should or that you find yourself boring and not very funny. When you speak to your friends about this, they might remind you that you take care of your elderly relative and that you’re hilarious.

This type of conversation can help you feel more understood and might bring to light some positive parts of your character that you haven’t considered before.

Spotlight Effect

The Spotlight Effect is when people tend to believe they are being noticed more than they are. 

As an imposter-syndrome-sufferer, this likely describes you!

Reality check: People don’t scrutinize our actions or failures as closely as we think they do.

Here’s an example: Thomas Edison, the prolific inventor, faced numerous failures and setbacks throughout his career. Famously, he reframed his numerous unsuccessful attempts to invent the lightbulb as steps towards success, reportedly saying, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

Edison understood that each failure was a lesson, not a mark against his competence. 

His resilience in the face of public setbacks demonstrates the Spotlight Effect—rather than remembering him for his failures, history celebrates his successes and his persistent approach to problem-solving.

Action Step: Actively remind yourself of the Spotlight Effect in moments of doubt or fear. When you’re about to enter a situation where imposter syndrome typically strikes—like a presentation or a meeting—pause and tell yourself, “Others are far less focused on my mistakes than I am. They’re more concerned with their responsibilities and challenges.”

The Power of Small Wins

A student asked me the other day, “Should I be taking on more risks?”

It’s a question many people with imposter syndrome might ask themselves, maybe because they feel like they aren’t doing enough or they should be working harder.

So, how did I answer them? With a resounding: “Yes, if they are purposeful!”

Because here’s the deal: When we take risks and succeed, we often feel a “winner’s rush,” or that flood of dopamine that makes us feel good about ourselves. And the more success we feel, the higher the chance we become even more successful! It’s a success loop in the making!

But doesn’t achieve more lead to even MORE feelings of imposter syndrome!?

Sure, it can… if you don’t capture your wins properly.

Success is great, but we need a “sinking in” time to absorb those successes into who we are. That’s why 70% of lottery winners go bankrupt after a few years: they never develop what it takes to succeed.

A study of over 12,000 journal entries from 238 employees found that capturing small wins helps increase motivation and self-confidence. So, to capture your successes, try keeping a success journal or gratitude journal. Which leads me to the next tip…

Reverse Mentorship

Traditionally, mentorship involves a more experienced individual guiding a less experienced one. Reverse mentorship flips this, allowing younger or less experienced team members to take over.

Reverse mentorship challenges the idea that value comes solely from experience or age! Say goodbye, imposter syndrome.

Here’s how:

• Pair Up: Pair yourself with someone who brings different skills or perspectives, ideally someone who might also see you as a mentor.
• Set Goals: Both mentors should outline what they hope to gain from this relationship. As someone battling imposter syndrome, focus on areas you feel insecure about or skills you believe you lack.
• Engage Regularly: Schedule regular sessions where each of you leads discussions or teaches the other something new. This could range from new technological tools and social media strategies to even broader life lessons.

Keep a Success File

Nothing grounds you more than writing down what you are grateful for.

Writing therapy has proven to be a great remedy for imposter syndrome. When feeling those self-doubts, you can pull out a journal and write about 5 things you are grateful for. Or take a screenshot and save the picture in a folder labeled “Success File.”

You can also capture your proudest moment of the day or any small wins you’ve accumulated. This gets those positive juices flowing.

You could also have a file for uplifting things when you’re trying to progress with your imposter syndrome. Write about what other people have said about you and records of your accomplishments so you can reflect on them properly. This might include an award at work, a Facebook comment saying someone loved an event you recently held or a love letter from a romantic partner.

Sometimes, we forget that we are worth it.

If you know you have imposter syndrome tendencies; I want you to start gathering success reminders to put into this journal. These can be emails from colleagues or friends and family. They can be letters you have received. They can be pictures of times you were proud. 

Digital Detox

If you’re constantly checking social media, you may unfairly compare yourself to others.

Social media can be a trap that causes people to feel like they don’t measure up. Influencers, models, and people living their best moments are not great things to look at—especially if your life doesn’t “match up” to theirs.

So, to stop comparing, I set a goal to take a yearly or biyearly digital detox. A digital detox is when you unplug and get off social media and email for some time—say, 10 days. You can do it from home or on vacation as a remote worker.

After returning from a digital detox, you might notice you compare yourself to others less and feel happier. Learn how to do a digital detox in the video below!

Embrace Public Vulnerability

Feeling a little brave?

Try embracing public vulnerability—openly sharing your doubts, fears, and perceived failures. 

Start by sharing a personal story of struggle or failure in a controlled and appropriate setting where you feel safe—a blog post, a team meeting, or a public speaking event. Focus on the journey, the obstacles, the moments of doubt, and most importantly, what you learned or how you grew from the experience.

Real-Life Example: Before J.K. Rowling became one of the most famous authors in the world, she faced numerous rejections and personal challenges. Rowling openly discusses her early career struggles, including being on welfare, experiencing depression, and receiving multiple rejections from publishers for the Harry Potter manuscript.

In her 2008 Harvard commencement speech, Rowling spoke candidly about the benefits of failure, highlighting how hitting rock bottom became the foundation upon which she rebuilt her life.

She shared, “Failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was and began to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me.”

Default to Yes

If you’re NOT overburdening yourself with too much responsibility…

Try saying “yes” more often. If you have imposter syndrome, you might feel you’re not good enough for that job. Or you’ll make a mistake on a big project, so you don’t take on more responsibility.

Change your default answer to yes.

• Even though you don’t meet the requirements, apply for that new job.
• Take the new project your boss offers, even though you don’t know how to do it.
• Give yourself permission to fail, even if it means getting rejected by your crush.

Side Note: If you’re a people pleaser, this tip may NOT be for you. Instead, you might have to learn to say no.

Who Gets Imposter Syndrome?

Even though imposter syndrome is prevalent, not enough people talk about it!

Imposter syndrome can affect anyone—from professionals to students to highly accomplished and successful people. Even Michelle Obama, Neil Gaiman, and Maya Angelou have come out and admitted to having bouts of imposter syndrome.

Check out this video where Tom Hanks admits he feels like a fraud (timestamp 0:18):

The effects of imposter syndrome can be devastating. Studies^{5 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31848865/} suggest that imposter syndrome can lead to a drop in job performance and job satisfaction, as well as increased^{6 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7174434/} anxiety and depression.

Even though all people are vulnerable to imposter syndrome, some are more susceptible to it than others, particularly women and people of color.

Perfectionism & Imposter Syndrome

Perfectionists, in their quest for the flawless execution of tasks, often set themselves up for the feelings of inadequacy they strive to avoid. Ironic, but true! Here’s why many perfectionists often end up with imposter syndrome…

Example: Let’s say you had a friend named Alex, a graphic designer. They spend countless hours tweaking a project that was already client-approved. Alex’s fear? Any overlooked flaw will unveil them not as the skilled professionals they are but as imposters.

The project gets delivered late, not due to lack of skill, but because of the paralyzing quest for perfection—a classic manifestation of how Imposter Syndrome can stem from perfectionism.

At the heart of perfectionism lies a profound fear of failure and exposure to vulnerability. Perfectionists dread making mistakes, worrying that any flaw will make them seen as frauds. 

This fear drives them to overcompensate, working tirelessly to cover up or avoid perceived shortcomings.

Imposter Syndrome feeds on this fear, as individuals believe they must conceal their imperfections to maintain their status and success. The constant pressure to perform flawlessly and the internalized fear of being “found out” create a breeding ground for Imposter Syndrome.

The (Quick) Origin of Imposter Syndrome

In 1978, psychologists Clance and Imes first published a study^{7 https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1979-26502-001} about Imposter Syndrome, primarily among women who felt they didn’t deserve their academic achievements. Fast forward, and it’s clear this isn’t just an academic anomaly; it’s everywhere, across genders and fields, and its effects on mental health are widely known.

Watch This TED Talk if You Have Imposter Syndrome…

OK, so maybe you’re stuck with imposter syndrome for now.

But it’s not all bad. Mike Cannon-Brookes, Australian billionaire and CEO of Atlassian^{8 https://www.atlassian.com/} , shares his own imposter syndrome story and how he turned it into a strength:

What is the Opposite of Imposter Syndrome?

There’s another phenomenon for those with the OPPOSITE of imposter syndrome, called the Dunning-Kruger effect.

You may have heard this in a college class: the Dunning-Kruger effect is when you think you already “know” everything or brush off other people’s advice.

People who experience the Dunning-Kruger effect are super confident and even arrogant—but we’ve all probably experienced this effect at times.

For example, an engineering student may skip studying for a test because  

they already know the answers—only to fail miserably since they were underprepared. Yikes!

Is it possible to have a case of imposter syndrome AND the Dunning-Kruger effect?

Yes! You can feel like an imposter in some things but be overconfident in others.

However, both lead to negative consequences if not properly addressed. If you suffer from the Dunning-Kruger effect, read up on Survivorship Bias.

Bonus: Stop Feeling Like a Fraud

If you’re battling imposter syndrome, remember, you’re not alone!

To recap, watch my video on imposter syndrome and how to stop feeling like a fraud:

Remember, it’s OK to feel like an imposter occasionally, but don’t let your imposter syndrome define you. And you’re never alone! These tips should help, but alongside working on your imposter syndrome directly, it can also be beneficial to work on your confidence and self-esteem. This can give you a better emotional foundation to work on while you continue your self-development.

So what did you think? Let me know your personal imposter syndrome story in the comments section below!

Next, check out our post on How to Look and Feel Confident.