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

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