Marvin OnumonuA study led by the University of Exeter and published in Social Psychological and Personality Science showed that imposter syndrome is not just a personal issue, but often comes from how workplaces are set up.
Imposter syndrome leads people at work to believe others overrate their abilities and worry they will be exposed as a fraud.
The research found that instead of being down to individual perfectionism or insecurity, organisations themselves play a part in causing imposter feelings among staff.
Dr Christopher T. Begeny at the University of Exeter said: “We discovered that impostor feelings don’t emerge from certain individuals but from certain work cultures.
“They get triggered and amplified when organisations create a culture where colleagues are your competition – those who need to be outdone, who otherwise stand in the way of getting recognised and appreciated in the organisation.
“These competitive work environments encourage unhealthy comparisons with higher-performing colleagues, leaving people feeling insecure about their abilities.
“We see these effects in both men and women, and regardless of age, position, or background.”
