Eventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.I hold backwhenworking witha group orteamI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorI was probablychosen/hired/admittedbecause of some kindof mistakeI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobI assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doI should beable to domost thingsby myselfI don't seemyself astalentedtherefore Iam a fraudFailure isnot anoptionIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionI assume whenpeople arecomplementingthat they arebeing niceIf I can doit, anyonecanI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI qualifythings bysaying: "Thismay not beright, but..."Eventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.I hold backwhenworking witha group orteamI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorI was probablychosen/hired/admittedbecause of some kindof mistakeI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobI assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doI should beable to domost thingsby myselfI don't seemyself astalentedtherefore Iam a fraudFailure isnot anoptionIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionI assume whenpeople arecomplementingthat they arebeing niceIf I can doit, anyonecanI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI 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. Eventually people will realize that I'm not that smart
  2. Don't challenge yourself for fear that you might look bad if you don't know something
  3. I try to be really personable and friendly so people won't notice or mind if I'm not that good.
  4. I hold back when working with a group or team
  5. I don't tell anyone I feel like an impostor
  6. I was probably chosen/hired/admitted because of some kind of mistake
  7. I should feel lucky that I got this deal/case/job
  8. I assume I will fall short so I won't be disappointed when I do
  9. I should be able to do most things by myself
  10. I don't see myself as talented therefore I am a fraud
  11. Failure is not an option
  12. It was a fluke. I can only be this good once
  13. I always share credit with others even if I did most of the work
  14. I only won/accomplished because there wasn't that much competition
  15. I assume when people are complementing that they are being nice
  16. If I can do it, anyone can
  17. I should just "get it" like everyone around me
  18. Do not let people see you working too hard
  19. I remind others of how much I don't know so they don't expect too much
  20. I apologize for mistakes or for not knowing something
  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 panic before a test or presentation or performance
  24. I look really good on paper but I don't really have the skills to live up to my credentials
  25. I qualify things by saying: "This may not be right, but..."