Never let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchI was probablychosen/hired/admittedbecause of some kindof mistakeEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartIf I can doit, anyonecanI should beable to domost thingsby myselfI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpI hold backwhenworking witha group orteamFailure isnot anoptionI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobI assume whenpeople arecomplementingthat they arebeing niceI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.Don't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingI qualifythings bysaying: "Thismay not beright, but..."I assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformanceNever let onthat you donot knowhow to dosomethingI onlywon/accomplishedbecause therewasn't that muchcompetitionI remind othersof how much Idon't know sothey don'texpect toomuchI was probablychosen/hired/admittedbecause of some kindof mistakeEventuallypeople willrealize thatI'm not thatsmartIf I can doit, anyonecanI should beable to domost thingsby myselfI succeededbecause Ihad a lot ofhelpI hold backwhenworking witha group orteamFailure isnot anoptionI apologizefor mistakesor for notknowingsomethingI don't tellanyone Ifeel like animpostorIt was afluke. I canonly be thisgood onceI should feellucky that Igot thisdeal/case/jobI assume whenpeople arecomplementingthat they arebeing niceI look reallygood on paperbut I don't reallyhave the skills tolive up to mycredentialsI should just"get it" likeeveryonearound meDo not letpeople seeyou workingtoo hardI try to be reallypersonable andfriendly so peoplewon't notice ormind if I'm not thatgood.Don't challengeyourself for fearthat you mightlook bad if youdon't knowsomethingI qualifythings bysaying: "Thismay not beright, but..."I assume Iwill fall shortso I won't bedisappointedwhen I doI always sharecredit withothers even ifI did most ofthe workI panic beforea test orpresentationorperformance

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