What's Your Impostor Syndrome Archetype?

Spotlight on the Perfectionist

This archetype revolves around the belief that anything less than perfect is failure. Perfectionists set impossibly high standards for themselves, and often tie their self-worth to the results of their efforts.

They may overprepare, avoid delegation, and refrain from celebrating their successes, instead always focusing on what could have been better. This way of thinking can be exhausting.

Perfectionism is particularly common among women leaders and can be attributed to several factors, such as societal pressures to exceed expectations in male-dominated workplaces and fear of criticism or judgment for real or perceived failure.

4 Tips for Overcoming the Perfectionist Archetype

1. Learn from your mistakes, don’t fear them. Mistakes don’t mean you’re failing; they mean you’re learning. Effective leaders recognize what didn’t work, and ask, “What will I do differently next time?”
2. Aim for progress, not perfection. Ask yourself, “Does this really need to be perfect?” Sometimes, a solid 7/10 is more than enough, so learn to recognize when it will suffice.
3. Celebrate your wins. At the end of each day, write down one small success (or a big one!). This trains your brain to recognize achievements in real time.
4. Silence that inner critic. When self-critical thoughts come up, replace them with more-positive affirmations. For example, instead of thinking, “I should have done better,” tell yourself, “I gave my best effort, and that’s enough.”

Quiz 2: The Superwoman Archetype

Spotlight on the Superwoman

This archetype describes those who feel the need to excel in absolutely every role they take on, whether it’s leader, colleague, mentor, partner, parent, or friend.

Their self-worth directly correlates with how well they handle it all, even if it’s at the expense of their own wellbeing. Superwomen rarely take breaks or ask for help; when they do, they may fear it will be seen as weakness. This mindset is exhausting and, ultimately, unsustainable.

3 Tips for Overcoming the Superwoman Archetype

1. Set boundaries without guilt. Learn to say “no” to additional responsibilities when your plate is already full. You could practice phrases like, “I’d love to help, but I’m maxed out at the moment, and I wouldn’t be able to give it the attention it deserves.” Remind yourself that prioritizing yourself isn’t selfish; it’s essential to sustaining your leadership.
2. Ask for help. Recognize that delegating or seeking support is a strength, not a weakness. Let trusted colleagues share the load, knowing it benefits both you and them.
3. Focus on what matters most. Shift your focus from trying to “do it all” to doing what actually makes a difference. Regularly review your priorities (this can be a useful exercise with a mentor who can hold you accountable) and focus on what aligns with your goals.

Quiz 3: The Natural Genius Archetype

Spotlight on the Natural Genius

The Natural Genius archetype is rooted in the belief that true ability should come effortlessly. If you’re this type, you may feel that struggling to master a skill or challenge is a sign of inadequacy.

Natural Geniuses often expect themselves to excel immediately and without much effort, confusing competence with innate ability. This mindset can discourage persistence and result in you feeling like a failure when progress is slow or you hit bumps in the road.

3 Tips for Overcoming the Natural Genius Archetype

1. Mastery takes time, so trust the process. Struggles are opportunities to learn and grow, not indicators of failure. Try to celebrate your progress, no matter how small or insignificant it might seem to you.
2. Challenge all-or-nothing thinking. Avoid equating small mistakes with complete failure. Focus on what you’ve accomplished rather than what didn’t go perfectly.
3. Celebrate effort, not just talent. Shift your focus from needing immediate results to valuing persistence and hard work. Reflect on the times you succeeded even when it was tough or things went wrong. Look at the overall journey rather than just how things turned out.

Quiz 4: The Soloist Archetype

Spotlight on the Soloist

This archetype is defined by a strong belief that self-reliance equals success. If this resonates with you, you may feel that asking for help makes you look less capable.

Soloists often avoid delegating or collaborating because they fear that it will reflect poorly on them or that others won’t meet their standards.

While independence can be a strength, this mindset can lead to burnout, loneliness, and missed opportunities for teamwork and growth.

3 Tips for Overcoming the Soloist Archetype

1. True strength is knowing when to ask for support. Trusting your team to take things on doesn’t just lighten your load, it also builds their confidence and helps everyone gain or flex key skills.
2. Start small with delegation. If handing over control to others feels uncomfortable, start with less-critical tasks, gradually building your confidence in your team’s abilities.
3. Celebrate shared successes, as they reflect on you too. When your team thrives, grows, and delivers great work, it reflects well on you as a leader.

Quiz 5: The Expert Archetype

Spotlight on the Expert

This archetype is centered on the belief that you need to know everything, or nearly everything, in order to be successful.

Experts often feel like they’re never fully qualified, no matter how much they achieve or how many certifications they add to their LinkedIn profile.

They might go on endless courses, spend excessive time preparing for even small tasks, or hold back from taking on new challenges until they feel completely ready.

While this commitment can mark you out as someone who’s thorough and serious about your work, it’s also a recipe for overwork, exhaustion, self-doubt, and missed opportunities.

3 Tips for Overcoming the Expert Archetype

1. Repeat, “I already know enough to lead well.” Your experience and expertise are already valuable. After all, they got you to where you are today. You don’t need to have all the answers to lead effectively. So, when you take on a task, trust that others see you as capable, even if you doubt yourself.
2. Get comfortable with imperfect information. Instead of overpreparing, trust yourself to make the best decision with the information you have. Set a reasonable time limit for preparation, but don’t let endless research or self-doubt prevent you from taking action.
3. Learn something just for fun. Not everything you do needs to have a strategic purpose or prove your competence. Pick up a skill or hobby purely because it interests you: learn a language, take a painting class, or try your hand at coding. When you allow yourself to enjoy learning without the pressure to “be the best,” you train your brain to embrace growth for the sake of growth, not success.