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

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.


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