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

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