I panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpIf I can doit, anyonecanDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobI was probablychosen/hired/admittedbecause of some kindof mistakeI should beable to domost thingsby myselfI qualifythings bysaying: "Thismay not beright, but..."I always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workI assume whenpeople arecomplementingthat they arebeing niceEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartFailure isnot anoptionI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.I assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI hold backwhenworking witha group orteamI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpIf I can doit, anyonecanDon't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobI was probablychosen/hired/admittedbecause of some kindof mistakeI should beable to domost thingsby myselfI qualifythings bysaying: "Thismay not beright, but..."I always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workI assume whenpeople arecomplementingthat they arebeing niceEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartFailure isnot anoptionI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.I assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI hold backwhenworking witha group orteamI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound me

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