I assume whenpeople arecomplimentingthat they arebeing niceDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchI preferpeople tounderestimatemeEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartFailure isnot anoptionI bettersign upfor morethingsI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionIf I can doit, anyonecanI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI was probablychosenbecause ofsome kind ofmistakeI should beable to domost thingsby myselfI don't knowenoughenough aboutdiversity, whyam I here?I should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.I qualifythings bysaying: "Thismay not beright, but..."Never let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpI assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doPeople thinkI'm smarterthan I reallyamI hold backwhenworking witha group orteamI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostor"This is asillyquestion..."Do not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI assume whenpeople arecomplimentingthat they arebeing niceDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchI preferpeople tounderestimatemeEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartFailure isnot anoptionI bettersign upfor morethingsI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionIf I can doit, anyonecanI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI was probablychosenbecause ofsome kind ofmistakeI should beable to domost thingsby myselfI don't knowenoughenough aboutdiversity, whyam I here?I should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.I qualifythings bysaying: "Thismay not beright, but..."Never let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpI assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doPeople thinkI'm smarterthan I reallyamI hold backwhenworking witha group orteamI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostor"This is asillyquestion..."Do not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hard

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