No, Imposter Syndrome Isn’t a “Good Thing”

Lately, I’ve been seeing more and more headlines like this:

“Imposter syndrome is actually good for you.”

And honestly? I can’t even…

Here’s why that framing is not only misleading, but harmful (especially for women and people of color in leadership.)

One viral video features Arthur Brooks from Harvard (yes, I’m naming him) claiming that all high performers experience imposter syndrome except narcissistic, manipulative psychopaths. So, if you’re “normal,” you’ll sometimes doubt yourself.

Cute. But here’s the reality:

• Yes, anyone can feel imposter syndrome.

• But research shows women and people of color are far more likely to experience it (and more intensely btw) than white men.

• Meanwhile, men are also the ones who tend to score higher on narcissism, manipulation, and psychopathy. So maybe not the comparison Arthur thinks it is?

Then Arthur doubles down by saying that understanding what you’re good at and what you need to work on is actually healthy. And you know what? He’s right.

But let’s call that what it actually is: self-awareness.

That is not imposter syndrome.

You can be deeply self-aware (e.g., know your strengths, know what you’ve got to work on) and still feel like you don’t deserve your spot. Why? Because women live in a world that constantly tells us that we don’t belong or we don’t deserve this.

The thing that might make my head explode the most though is…

…Is Arthur ending with advice on “overcoming” imposter syndrome that completely ignores those societal and structural factors. Which means it’s not advice that’s actually useful to women, or anyone who regularly faces bias in the workplace.

👉 This is why we need leadership development programs designed for women’s lived experiences.
👉 This is why we need to stop treating imposter syndrome as a quirky “side effect of success.”
👉 And this is why women in leadership deserve support that acknowledges the real systems at play

Because imposter syndrome isn’t a “good thing.”

Self-awareness is.
And we deserve the difference to be recognized.