I see your point that the syndrome is not an excuse to remain average. However, in many situations, the syndrome is actually preventing people from taking on challenges. People won't apply for a new job because they feel that they don't have the required skills. People won't try to tackle new challenges because they don't feel competent.
I've often heard friends tell me how much of imposters they felt like. And yes, to some extent, they could do a lot better. But factually, they were doing better than their coworkers, customers... If you judge yourself against your own ideal standards, you are always going to miss those and feel like shit. If you aim at those same standards but do better than people around you, well, you are not an imposter.
That being said, one should also be realistic about one's team/company performance. There is a game to train people about agile methods where you need to pass stress balls alond a chain, with "air time" and some rules. I had the chance of doing it a few times in different groups. Some of them started at 3 balls that went through and were happy when they got to 12 after a couple of cycles. 400% ! Yeah. Meanwhile, other groups started at 50 and rose to 90. So you should still judge yourself against your peers but know that maybe your peers suck. 😆
I see your point that the syndrome is not an excuse to remain average. However, in many situations, the syndrome is actually preventing people from taking on challenges. People won't apply for a new job because they feel that they don't have the required skills. People won't try to tackle new challenges because they don't feel competent.
I've often heard friends tell me how much of imposters they felt like. And yes, to some extent, they could do a lot better. But factually, they were doing better than their coworkers, customers... If you judge yourself against your own ideal standards, you are always going to miss those and feel like shit. If you aim at those same standards but do better than people around you, well, you are not an imposter.
That being said, one should also be realistic about one's team/company performance. There is a game to train people about agile methods where you need to pass stress balls alond a chain, with "air time" and some rules. I had the chance of doing it a few times in different groups. Some of them started at 3 balls that went through and were happy when they got to 12 after a couple of cycles. 400% ! Yeah. Meanwhile, other groups started at 50 and rose to 90. So you should still judge yourself against your peers but know that maybe your peers suck. 😆
That's what the part on ignoring the shame is about