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

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