Faking it:

The workplace implications of the impostor phenomenon

Delivered by: Dr Terri Simpkin

While the impostor phenomenon (aka syndrome) is currently gaining public attention, much of what is written, particularly in social media, is misinformation. The breadth and scale of its impact on individuals in a social setting such as the workplace is rarely identified despite the profound consequences it may have. Also, implications for organisations and teams, particularly in regard to productivity, lack of innovation, implicit bias and disengagement are not well recognised by individuals or leaders.

Uniquely, this workshop takes an evidence-based approach to help organisations realise how their processes, structures and cultures are inadvertently fuelling the inexplicable feeling of ‘not being good enough’ among their workforce.

Indicative content:

This interactive short workshop (3 hours) is designed for individuals. The workshop session identifies what the impostor phenomenon (IP) is, and what it is not, by taking a ‘myth busting’ approach. and provides an overview of how it manifests in the workplace.

The session is designed for leaders and managers who might not fully understand why talented people are performing below their capabilities. This session is also useful for individuals who may be looking to leverage their own latent potential and diminish anxiety about their capabilities.

Development outcomes:

Gain clarity about what IP is (and what it is not) and how it is manifested in behaviour and thought habits in the self and others (particularly useful for people in HR or leadership roles).
Identify workplace and governance consequences (e.g. productivity issues, psycho-social risk, performance deficits and talent management).
Identify the broad implications of IP on the individual and those around them (personally and professionally) by looking briefly at the cyclical nature of IP experiences.
Briefly explore ways of diminishing IP experiences in the workplace.

This session is best delivered as an in-person interactive session but can also be delivered online.

About Dr Terri Simpkin

Dr Terri Simpkin is an Associate Professor in Management at the University of Tasmania. She has been researching the impostor phenomenon since 2012 and has conducted global research into the experience with a focus on workplace consequences and social implications of the phenomenon. As part of her academic and professional consulting work, she has delivered IP workshops, keynotes, coaching seminars and advisories across the UK, Europe and Australia since 2016.

Previous clients include the NHS (UK), Cambridge University (UK), Essex and Kent Police (UK), Data 61 (CSIRO), NTT Global, CBRE and has delivered public sessions at the Cambridge Festival Ideas. Her work has been featured in Grazia, Vogue, BBC (radio and TV), People Management, The Conversation and the Guardian.