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

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