Dealing with doubt: Overcoming impostor syndrome in new practitioners

Impostor phenomenon, more commonly now known as impostor syndrome, among new practitioners is a sense of constant fear that one’s achievements are because of luck or timing instead of merit.1,2 People who encounter feelings of impostor syndrome feel they are not as capable or adequate as others perceive them to be.1 Impostor syndrome can be experienced by anyone—men, women, young people, old people, and those in underrepresented and ethnic groups. Women in particular are at a high risk for experiencing impostor syndrome.3,4 Data show that women express their ideas as questions to avoid being perceived as abrasive, are penalized for exerting power in meetings, and minimize their salary expectations and ambitions compared to men.5-7 All of this leads to women doubting their abilities, thereby worsening their impostor syndrome. Underrepresented minorities are also prone to impostor syndrome, which may be due to having...