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

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