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| 'How I deal with having impostor syndrome' | 'How I deal with having impostor syndrome' |
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| Michelle Obama's remarks about impostor syndrome - a term used to describe feelings of insecurity or self-doubt, despite there being no evidence to support such a belief - have inspired others to share their experiences. | Michelle Obama's remarks about impostor syndrome - a term used to describe feelings of insecurity or self-doubt, despite there being no evidence to support such a belief - have inspired others to share their experiences. |
| When Sophie Montagne applied to be a part of the Ice Maiden expedition in Antartica, she didn't think she would make the cut. | When Sophie Montagne applied to be a part of the Ice Maiden expedition in Antartica, she didn't think she would make the cut. |
| She applied whilst working in marketing, and saw a poster about the trip at an army reserve unit where she attends part-time. | She applied whilst working in marketing, and saw a poster about the trip at an army reserve unit where she attends part-time. |
| "The group of applicants was gradually whittled down from 250 applicants to the final six, in a process that lasted two years. | "The group of applicants was gradually whittled down from 250 applicants to the final six, in a process that lasted two years. |
| "During this time I was so crippled by impostor syndrome that I nearly took myself out of the running for the team - I was just somebody that sat at a desk doing marketing. Why did I think I could be part of a record breaking team in the coldest place on earth?! | |
| "It affected how I behaved, my sense of self and, most importantly, my confidence. | "It affected how I behaved, my sense of self and, most importantly, my confidence. |
| "Everyone else seemed to be more of an athlete and was in the army full-time. | "Everyone else seemed to be more of an athlete and was in the army full-time. |
| "When the team was announced it was vindication that someone has seen me as being valuable - it gave me a spine of confidence. | "When the team was announced it was vindication that someone has seen me as being valuable - it gave me a spine of confidence. |
| "As part of the selection I spoke to a psychologist who helped me to identify the feeling I had of lying all the time about who I was. I could finally put a name to it. | "As part of the selection I spoke to a psychologist who helped me to identify the feeling I had of lying all the time about who I was. I could finally put a name to it. |
| "I now speak about my experiences in Antarctica and about impostor syndrome specifically to companies and schools. I had never done public speaking before. | "I now speak about my experiences in Antarctica and about impostor syndrome specifically to companies and schools. I had never done public speaking before. |
| "I help them try to find ways to encourage young girls into sport and am very open about my imposter syndrome and how I dealt with it." | "I help them try to find ways to encourage young girls into sport and am very open about my imposter syndrome and how I dealt with it." |
| What is impostor syndrome? | What is impostor syndrome? |
| Psychotherapist Rachel Buchan describes impostor syndrome as "an internal belief that you are not good enough or don't belong". | Psychotherapist Rachel Buchan describes impostor syndrome as "an internal belief that you are not good enough or don't belong". |
| She says the feeling is most commonly found in the workplace but can also manifest itself in other areas of life like social situations. | She says the feeling is most commonly found in the workplace but can also manifest itself in other areas of life like social situations. |
| It can affect people of all backgrounds, she says, and emerges for a variety of reasons including someone's upbringing, background and specific circumstances at the time. | It can affect people of all backgrounds, she says, and emerges for a variety of reasons including someone's upbringing, background and specific circumstances at the time. |
| Consultant Noel Ferguson says he has impostor syndrome but instead of trying to overcoming it, he has used it to his advantage. | Consultant Noel Ferguson says he has impostor syndrome but instead of trying to overcoming it, he has used it to his advantage. |
| Growing up in "a working class background in Belfast, during the Troubles," and looking after his elderly parents who were ill during a time when he himself became ill with cancer, he underperformed academically and that led him to feel he wasn't good enough. | Growing up in "a working class background in Belfast, during the Troubles," and looking after his elderly parents who were ill during a time when he himself became ill with cancer, he underperformed academically and that led him to feel he wasn't good enough. |
| "I have tried to take my impostor syndrome and use it for a directed purpose," says Noel who later did Open University courses in Leadership and Management. | "I have tried to take my impostor syndrome and use it for a directed purpose," says Noel who later did Open University courses in Leadership and Management. |
| "I was always aware I had it but I didn't know what it was. | "I was always aware I had it but I didn't know what it was. |
| "Many see it as a burden but I have used it to my benefit. I am thankful I have impostor syndrome because a way of dealing with it is to always strive to be better. | "Many see it as a burden but I have used it to my benefit. I am thankful I have impostor syndrome because a way of dealing with it is to always strive to be better. |
| "There's nothing wrong for men to admit they have it." | "There's nothing wrong for men to admit they have it." |
| Noel started the Institute for One World Leadership and encourages people to be better leaders. | Noel started the Institute for One World Leadership and encourages people to be better leaders. |
| "When I give talks to students I like to share personal experiences. Lots of people have imposter syndrome and think they are the only ones. | "When I give talks to students I like to share personal experiences. Lots of people have imposter syndrome and think they are the only ones. |
| "For people with impostor syndrome, you will always be searching for ways to improve your performance, extend your abilities, and be better at what you do." | "For people with impostor syndrome, you will always be searching for ways to improve your performance, extend your abilities, and be better at what you do." |
| How to overcome impostor syndrome | How to overcome impostor syndrome |
| Kate Atkin is a professional speaker and delivers workshops on impostor syndrome, which she is researching for her PhD. | Kate Atkin is a professional speaker and delivers workshops on impostor syndrome, which she is researching for her PhD. |
| As the only woman on her managerial team in her previous career at Barclays she experienced impostor syndrome herself and shares tips for overcoming it: | As the only woman on her managerial team in her previous career at Barclays she experienced impostor syndrome herself and shares tips for overcoming it: |
| Doreen Anselm-Etienne from Cambridgeshire told the BBC that when she was the only black manager in a team in the NHS she had a "constant feeling" of not belonging. | Doreen Anselm-Etienne from Cambridgeshire told the BBC that when she was the only black manager in a team in the NHS she had a "constant feeling" of not belonging. |
| "My role involved working closely with mainly doctors and consultants, the majority of whom were white middle-class males. | "My role involved working closely with mainly doctors and consultants, the majority of whom were white middle-class males. |
| "For about five to six years I had the constant feeling that I didn't belong, that I had got the job by default, I wasn't smart enough, I wasn't good enough, my grasp of the English language was inadequate, as I had a Caribbean accent. | "For about five to six years I had the constant feeling that I didn't belong, that I had got the job by default, I wasn't smart enough, I wasn't good enough, my grasp of the English language was inadequate, as I had a Caribbean accent. |
| "The HR consultant once told me to just keep telling myself every day: 'I'm the manager, I'm the manager'. | "The HR consultant once told me to just keep telling myself every day: 'I'm the manager, I'm the manager'. |
| "I don't know if I overcame it but having the support of some of my colleagues and my successes helped. | "I don't know if I overcame it but having the support of some of my colleagues and my successes helped. |
| "But it was a constant urge to keep doing better, keep working harder. It wasn't so much about being the best but an attempt to keep up with people I wrongly perceived to be better, smarter, or more intelligent than I am." | "But it was a constant urge to keep doing better, keep working harder. It wasn't so much about being the best but an attempt to keep up with people I wrongly perceived to be better, smarter, or more intelligent than I am." |
| "Feeling like an impostor hasn't really left me - I've just developed a thicker skin, and age has brought with it a level of confidence." | "Feeling like an impostor hasn't really left me - I've just developed a thicker skin, and age has brought with it a level of confidence." |
| Interviews by Andree Massiah, UGC & Social News team | Interviews by Andree Massiah, UGC & Social News team |