Is Imposter Syndrome Egotistical?
Is imposter syndrome egotistical?
In his book Stillness is the Key, Ryan Holiday says, “…ego has a less assuming evil twin–often called imposter syndrome.”
He makes the case that while brash egotism receives the flack for our self-centered actions, there’s another form of self-centeredness. And that’s imposter syndrome.
Similar to fake humility or the unwillingness to accept a gift, imposter syndrome is rooted in our need to save face, and be perceived a certain way. We’re so afraid of people finding out that we don’t know something. So we communicate vaguely. Pass the blame. Say yes to things we’re not sure we can accomplish.
I’m well acquainted with imposter syndrome. I started my career with “fake ‘it til you make it” as my motto. I pitched clients on services with without fully understanding what I was offering. There’s nothing wrong with that–I just didn’t let them know. I portrayed myself as an experienced professional, instead of the reality that I was just figuring things out.
When I think back on successful productions I’ve run in the past, they were usually when I told the crew that I didn’t know traditional film industry lingo. Everyone has always been very understanding and forgiving when I told them that. They explained things a different way instead, and we always achieved a great result.
The initial sting of honesty and admittance is real. But the mental energy saved by not needing to save face later on makes it worth it.
Let’s set aside out egos. Let’s be honest about our situations. And let’s move forward in honesty, not as imposters.
Thanks for reading. Please share this article with a friend, or on your socials.
For more pieces on motivation, click here.
Download my E-Book, 5 Steps To Achieve Your Creative Goals.
