Defeating the Imposter Within: or, "They Haven't Found Me Out Yet"

“I have no idea what I’m doing”, “I’m not a real researcher”, “if I say anything, everyone will know I don’t know what I’m talking about”.
Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. Imposter syndrome – the sense that you’re not qualified to do your job and that one day you’ll be found out – is prevalent throughout the Higher Education sector and beyond, particularly amongst women. Research suggests that sharing the experience of imposter syndrome is an effective way to challenge personal feelings of being a fraud.

As a self-confessed imposter, I intend to offer a frank and personal reflection on my own experiences and insecurities, in order to help delegates start to develop more realistic opinions of their own work and capabilities. The session provided a safe space for delegates to confess what scares them professionally and own up to and confront their own self-doubts. Finally, the session will offer some of the tips and tricks I’ve learnt to keep the imposter at bay, or at least, in perspective.