I hold backwhenworking witha group orteamI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workI should beable to domost thingsby myselfI don't knowenoughenough aboutdiversity, whyam I here?I should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobI preferpeople tounderestimatemeIf I can doit, anyonecanI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceI assume whenpeople arecomplimentingthat they arebeing nicePeople thinkI'm smarterthan I reallyamI was probablychosenbecause ofsome kind ofmistakeI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpI qualifythings bysaying: "Thismay not beright, but..."I look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.Do not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doI bettersign upfor morethingsEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmart"This is asillyquestion..."I onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorFailure isnot anoptionI hold backwhenworking witha group orteamI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workI should beable to domost thingsby myselfI don't knowenoughenough aboutdiversity, whyam I here?I should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobI preferpeople tounderestimatemeIf I can doit, anyonecanI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceI assume whenpeople arecomplimentingthat they arebeing nicePeople thinkI'm smarterthan I reallyamI was probablychosenbecause ofsome kind ofmistakeI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpI qualifythings bysaying: "Thismay not beright, but..."I look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.Do not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doI bettersign upfor morethingsEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmart"This is asillyquestion..."I onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorFailure isnot anoption

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