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

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