WCW: IMPOSTOR phenomenon in academia – Successful by luck or competence?

Impostor Syndrome describes the feeling of constant self-doubt about one's own competence and performance. It includes the feeling of being an intellectual fraud and in danger of being exposed at any moment, despite their objective success. This concept is mainly described for high-achieving people. It often affects people who do not attribute or recognize success due to their own achievements and abilities.

The goal of this course is to learn about the Impostor Syndrome. To this aim, we will look at the characteristics as well as scientific explanations that promote its development. In practical exercises we will look at our own professional development and identify hidden beliefs. We will dive into why the Impostor Syndrome is affecting especially knowledge workers and what the connections are to mental health. Finally, we focus on strategies to effectively work against these negative beliefs.