I assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I do"This is asillyquestion..."I was probablychosenbecause ofsome kind ofmistakeI assume whenpeople arecomplimentingthat they arebeing niceI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchPeople thinkI'm smarterthan I reallyamI should beable to domost thingsby myselfIf I can doit, anyonecanI qualifythings bysaying: "Thismay not beright, but..."Eventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI hold backwhenworking witha group orteamI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI bettersign upfor morethingsI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meI preferpeople tounderestimatemeI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI don't knowenoughenough aboutdiversity, whyam I here?Failure isnot anoptionI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.I assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I do"This is asillyquestion..."I was probablychosenbecause ofsome kind ofmistakeI assume whenpeople arecomplimentingthat they arebeing niceI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchPeople thinkI'm smarterthan I reallyamI should beable to domost thingsby myselfIf I can doit, anyonecanI qualifythings bysaying: "Thismay not beright, but..."Eventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI hold backwhenworking witha group orteamI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI bettersign upfor morethingsI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meI preferpeople tounderestimatemeI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI don't knowenoughenough aboutdiversity, whyam I here?Failure isnot anoptionI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI 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 assume I will fall short so I won't be disappointed when I do
  2. "This is a silly question..."
  3. I was probably chosen because of some kind of mistake
  4. I assume when people are complimenting that they are being nice
  5. I remind others of how much I don't know so they don't expect too much
  6. People think I'm smarter than I really am
  7. I should be able to do most things by myself
  8. If I can do it, anyone can
  9. I qualify things by saying: "This may not be right, but..."
  10. Eventually people will realize that I'm not that smart
  11. Never let on that you do not know how to do something
  12. I hold back when working with a group or team
  13. I don't tell anyone I feel like an impostor
  14. I apologize for mistakes or for not knowing something
  15. I better sign up for more things
  16. I should just "get it" like everyone around me
  17. I prefer people to underestimate me
  18. I look really good on paper but I don't really have the skills to live up to my credentials
  19. Do not let people see you working too hard
  20. I don't know enough enough about diversity, why am I here?
  21. Failure is not an option
  22. I should feel lucky that I got this deal/case/job
  23. I always share credit with others even if I did most of the work
  24. I succeeded because I had a lot of help
  25. I panic before a test or presentation or performance
  26. Don't challenge yourself for fear that you might look bad if you don't know something
  27. I only won/accomplished because there wasn't that much competition
  28. It was a fluke. I can only be this good once
  29. I try to be really personable and friendly so people won't notice or mind if I'm not that good.