I try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.I should beable to domost thingsby myselfI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionFailure isnot anoptionIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI hold backwhenworking witha group orteamDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingI assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doI qualifythings bysaying: "Thismay not beright, but..."I always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceIf I can doit, anyonecanI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchI was probablychosen/hired/admittedbecause of some kindof mistakeI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meI assume whenpeople arecomplementingthat they arebeing niceI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.I should beable to domost thingsby myselfI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionFailure isnot anoptionIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI hold backwhenworking witha group orteamDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingI assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doI qualifythings bysaying: "Thismay not beright, but..."I always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceIf I can doit, anyonecanI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchI was probablychosen/hired/admittedbecause of some kindof mistakeI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meI assume whenpeople arecomplementingthat they arebeing nice

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