The Power of Impostor Syndrome

By: Jared Kane

Published: 2025-01-26

Updated: 2025-02-02

business

The secret power of feeling under qualified

For most of my career I felt that I was under qualified for my position. This started in college and continued well into my career in marketing. While it is uncomfortable to feel under qualified, I believe that discomfort can contribute to faster personal development.

A brief history of my experience with impostor syndrome

I graduated high school in 2006 without a career plan. I didn't know what I wanted to do, and I didn't apply to any universities. Instead, I attended a local community college and worked at Home Depot until I could figure out what was next. After two years I decided I would do what I loved: history. I just had to figure out what it meant to "do history."

I applied and was accepted to the University of Michigan to study Ancient Civilizations and Biblical Studies, a generously broad program that allowed me to study Hebrew, Greek, ancient Near Eastern history among other things. I remember feeling unworthy. I remember worrying that the admissions committee had made a mistake.

The fear that I would be "found out" to be unqualified motivated me. It was a driving force in my success. I felt the same later at the University of Chicago where I studied International Relations.

Where I believe this became most clear however was once I began working in the field of marketing at Foodpanda in the Middle East.

The marketing impostor

Being an impostor (or someone who doesn't know anything) is well and fine if you are a student. Are students really supposed to know anything anyway? But it is much more of a problem if you are being paid to know something (like as a marketing manager).

I joined Foodpanda fresh out of college with my B.A. in Ancient Civilizations and my M.A. in International Relations. Within 18 months I was the marketing manager for the region and was expected to know things. I felt like an impostor.

To combat the discomfort I felt from being under qualified, I read books on marketing, books on branding, books on content and creative, and books on business. I paid attention in every marketing summit, event, and meeting that I attended. I studied the marketing and branding of top companies. I was aware that I did not have a mentor or coach to guide me, I tried to be my own mentor.

10 years later, I have expertise in marketing. I gained expertise quickly because I never felt comfortable in my role. I knew that I was missing a college education in marketing. I knew that I was missing years of experience under a master of the field. I had a gap versus my peers. I worked hard to bridge that gap quickly.

The good and bad of impostor syndrome

It isn't always good to feel like an impostor. When is it good or bad?

How to make impostor syndrome work for you

Impostor syndrome is good when you are stretching your abilities, when you are taking on a challenge and striving to meet that challenge. This is analogous to physical training. Your periods of greatest growth are when you are pushing your limits, when you are taking on just a bit more than you are comfortable with and letting your body adapt.

For impostor syndrome to work you need to be testing your limits. You need to first move outside of your comfort zone and into an area where there is a challenge to overcome. You need to push yourself to meet that challenge.

You need to recognize your gaps and try to address them. You will not gain anything if you run from or hide your weaknesses.

You need to put in the work. Impostor syndrome is helpful because it can be motivating. That advantage is only as good as it is leveraged into doing the work.

What to avoid regarding impostor syndrome

Impostor syndrome can be bad if it blocks you from taking risks. It is the risk taking, and rising to the challenge that makes impostor syndrome work for you. If you run and hide, you are making impostor syndrome a weaknesses rather than a strength.

Real impostors and over confident people

What if you don't just feel like an impostor, what if you really are too far out of your element and incapable of doing the task put before you. In this case, I would like to congratulate you on being honest about the situation. I think this gives you the power to mitigate the worst of the potential risks. Talk to those close to you who have an interest in your success. Create a plan with them for how you can pivot into a role more suitable for your abilities. Internalize this as win.

What if you are not qualified but you feel like you are? Then I am sorry for you, and for those around you. I think this is the worst of all possibilities.

What is next for me?

I'm switching out of marketing into product management. It is a new field for me. It is a field where I am sure to feel out of my element, and where I'll wrestle with impostor syndrome again. I'm looking forward to the challenge. I'm looking forward to push my limits, and to learn and adapt to new challenges.

What is next for you?

Go out into the world. Challenge yourself. Allow yourself to feel uncomfortable. Address your discomfort with humility, hard work, and steady progression. Look forward to meeting the better, future you.