Imposter Syndrome

According the American Psychological Association, Imposter (or Impostor) Syndrome was originally described by two women psychologists, Imes and Chance, in the 1970s. Also called a phenomenon, it is described in people who “are not able to internalize or accept their success, often attributing it to luck rather than ability” (https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2013/11/fraud).

I found this article, written by Kirsten Weir, to describe many physicians and especially my physician clients; I kept saying – “yes, that describes me so well!”.  

Please use the link to read the entire article, but a few salient points to quickly summarize for my readers and my take on how they affect physicians trying to make a career transition:

• Impostor syndrome is not specific to women, men also have Imposter Syndrome – SO TRUE! In my experience coaching physicians, as many men as women have the feelings of self-doubt, don’t accept their expertise, suggest that they aren’t experienced enough for the career they are trying to transition to (mind you, these are physicians!!)
• Imposter syndrome is associated with strong pressures to achieve – It goes without saying that physicians carry this pressure to achieve on our sleeves! To get to medical school, you’ve had to achieve (or over-achieve!) – get the great grades to be accepted, do lots of volunteer work to increase your chances… medicine is a set-up for the over-achiever type!
• Change your thinking – in the article, Weiner includes changing your thinking as one of the tools to combat Imposter Syndrome.  In life coaching, our THOUGHTS drive our feelings, actions and results.  Working with my clients in their career transition, we not only approach the HOW of making a transition but we also deal with the underlying THOUGHTS that drive success in the transition.  Dealing with Impostor Syndrome is one of the common issues that comes up in coaching sessions.  Getting coached to see how your thoughts drive your results is a critical component to a successful transition! 

Reference:  Accessed September 5, 2022: https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2013/11/fraud

Ready to make a career transition to pharma/biotech… want to explore a way to use your medical training and knowledge in a fulfilling way without nights and weekends call or charting. Watch this webinar on Getting Past the Three Major Hurdles to a Career in the Pharma Industry HERE.