The Imposter Millennial

Imposter syndrome.

According to an article written in the Harvard Business Review, Impostor Syndrome is defined as “a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success. ‘Impostors’ suffer from chronic self-doubt and a sense of intellectual fraudulence that override any feelings of success or external proof of their competence. They seem unable to internalize their accomplishments, however successful they are in their field. High achieving, highly successful people often suffer, so impostor syndrome doesn’t equate with low self-esteem or a lack of self-confidence. Some researchers have linked it with perfectionism, especially in women and among academics (Corkindale 2008).

Millennials are dubbed as the selfish generation. It has been said they are the generation that wants fast results and carries an attitude of entitlement. This could not be further from the truth. While there are some outliers, most are constantly fighting this stigma. I spoke with millennials between the ages of 30 and 35 who are well-accomplished. More than half expressed feeling inadequate or had self-doubt concerning their achievements. This is a common sentiment. It did not matter how many promotions are received, degrees earned, and titles possessed. Millennials are still left feeling as if they do not genuinely deserve what they’ve achieved. This self-doubt is driven by negative self-talk for sure. However, it is also reinforced by society.

Why do so many millennials feel this way and struggle with self-doubt? I asked this question to a close friend of mine. She is 34 years old, and her resume is full of accolades, respectfully so. “It’s a weird conundrum,” she stated. “Part of me knows I’m smart and determined and even accomplished. Like I can hype myself up. But I’m afraid that the truth will be revealed, and I’ll be ‘found out’ that I’m not as smart as I am portrayed to be.”  She continued, “I believe we had a lot of pressure put on us to be better. To be better educated than our parents, (we are 1st generation college students, and college was the only option), and now we have to deliver. But on the other side, we aren’t allowed to fully deliver because the old folks think we’re too educated and don’t have enough experience. They set us up,” she laughed. In driving this perspective home, she added, “Like there’s going to be a point when my degrees, accomplishments, etc., aren’t enough. That everything I’ve done to get ahead is going to be null and void. My MBA is 10 years old right now and I’m only 34.”

The reinforcement of society falsely affirms those points of view expressed by those that I have interviewed. Millennials are taking over the corporate world. With that takeover, they are creating a bold presence. They are assuming executive management roles, becoming directors, CEOs, CFOs, and are running Fortune 500 companies. Many of their subordinate employees are those 41 and older who belong to the Baby Boomer and Gen X generations. Those Baby Boomers not yet retired feel their “millennial boss” is inadequate for the job solely based on their age. This bias conclusion is not rooted in facts. It is not based on the skill set, educational level, or work experience of their boss but on feeling that my boss is too young. Then, on the other hand, we have Generation X. Millennials face constant backlash from those 41 and older. There is a feeling of intimidation here. Their millennial counterparts have surpassed them in life. Millennials have a higher education level, move up quickly in the workforce, are entrepreneurs, and aren’t afraid to take professional and personal risks. Instead of acknowledging that millennials have done their due diligence to achieve what they have, many excuses are created, primarily based on incorrect assumptions. These excuses stem from false beliefs that millennials have had a silver spoon in their mouth and everything handed to them. For most millennials, the strive for success has been a true journey with real work put in.

While some circumstances may fit the above narratives, it cannot be denied that millennials have worked hard to obtain everything they have. They have worked hard for their degrees. They have earned their promotions and recognitions given in the workplace. They have made the necessary sacrifices to sustain a comfortable personal life. They have paid their dues. The accolades and the seat they have at the table or, in some instances, the tables they have created for themselves are well deserved.

Sources

Corkindale, G. (2008, May 7). Overcoming Imposter Syndrome. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2008/05/overcoming-imposter-syndrome