I panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceI assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doIf I can doit, anyonecanI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meI hold backwhenworking witha group orteamI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI was probablychosen/hired/admittedbecause of some kindof mistakeI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpI qualifythings bysaying: "Thismay not beright, but..."Never let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI should beable to domost thingsby myselfFailure isnot anoptionI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI assume whenpeople arecomplementingthat they arebeing niceDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.I panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceI assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doIf I can doit, anyonecanI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meI hold backwhenworking witha group orteamI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI was probablychosen/hired/admittedbecause of some kindof mistakeI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpI qualifythings bysaying: "Thismay not beright, but..."Never let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI should beable to domost thingsby myselfFailure isnot anoptionI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI assume whenpeople arecomplementingthat they arebeing niceDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.

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