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

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