I onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceI assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.If I can doit, anyonecanI qualify thingsby saying:"This may notbe right, but..."Don't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skillsto live up to mycredentialsI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchFailure isnot anoptionI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI hold backwhen workingwith a groupor teamI assume whenpeople arecomplementingthat they arebeing niceI was probablychosen/hired/admittedbecause of some kindof mistakeI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorI should beable to domost thingsby myselfI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceI assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.If I can doit, anyonecanI qualify thingsby saying:"This may notbe right, but..."Don't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skillsto live up to mycredentialsI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchFailure isnot anoptionI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI hold backwhen workingwith a groupor teamI assume whenpeople arecomplementingthat they arebeing niceI was probablychosen/hired/admittedbecause of some kindof mistakeI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorI should beable to domost thingsby myself

Impostor Syndrome Bingo - Call List

(Print) Use this randomly generated list as your call list when playing the game. There is no need to say the BINGO column name. Place some kind of mark (like an X, a checkmark, a dot, tally mark, etc) on each cell as you announce it, to keep track. You can also cut out each item, place them in a bag and pull words from the bag.


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
  1. I only won/accomplished because there wasn't that much competition
  2. I apologize for mistakes or for not knowing something
  3. Never let on that you do not know how to do something
  4. I panic before a test or presentation or performance
  5. I assume I will fall short so I won't be disappointed when I do
  6. Eventually people will realize that I'm not that smart
  7. It was a fluke. I can only be this good once
  8. I should just "get it" like everyone around me
  9. I try to be really personable and friendly so people won't notice or mind if I'm not that good.
  10. If I can do it, anyone can
  11. I qualify things by saying: "This may not be right, but..."
  12. Don't challenge yourself for fear that you might look bad if you don't know something
  13. I look really good on paper but I don't really have the skills to live up to my credentials
  14. I succeeded because I had a lot of help
  15. I remind others of how much I don't know so they don't expect too much
  16. Failure is not an option
  17. I always share credit with others even if I did most of the work
  18. I should feel lucky that I got this deal/case/job
  19. Do not let people see you working too hard
  20. I hold back when working with a group or team
  21. I assume when people are complementing that they are being nice
  22. I was probably chosen/hired/admitted because of some kind of mistake
  23. I don't tell anyone I feel like an impostor
  24. I should be able to do most things by myself