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

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