Is the impostor syndrome keeping us from innovating?

Olivia Fox works with leaders inside big companies at http://www.spitfireteam.com/ and at lunch the other day she said something very interesting: that students at Stanford were dropping out because they were suffering from impostors' syndrome. In other words, the students thought that they had snuck through the admissions' process.

Worse, she told me, is that companies are seeing innovation stifled because of this syndrome. We talk a little bit about it, but we'll do a longer interview with her soon as she's working with companies like Google and eBay to empower their employees to ship innovations.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• innovation
• leadership
• coaching

[charcoaljohnson]

I was going to write a comment, but then I thought people might not like it and think that I wasn't clever.

[chiragpinjar]

Jeez, I didn't know I had impostor syndrome till now! Thanks Scoble & Olivia. Its hard to have a feeling & don't have a name to give it!

[gradenfamily]

Take an online quiz for the impostor syndrome at impostorquiz com

[ihalloway]

boobs

[mdlindc]

Nice. My friend and I have been talked years ago about suffering from, and overcoming, the imposter syndrome. It definitely is more pervasive than one might think. I suspect is shows up even more in creative fields--be it the arts or technology. Any area that requires innovation, not just polishing an existing "thing" will generate feelings of self-doubt. The key is to figure out one's need for validation. Thanks for posting this talk.

[electrojoe42]

Everybody wants to make everything better, but no one wants to make something in the first place. Take Kid Rock's Sweet Home Alabama song for example: you may not like or even know who Kid Rock is, but if you like the original Sweet Home Alabama song then chances are you're either going to love or really hate his version, and he's counting on that.

[patrickdh]

Great link to the mental side of innovation - Internet has had a helping hand as well, how can you be original and innovative in these times - where it seems that everything has already been done.

[ruiruiguigui]

if you are watching videos on youtube instead of doing your job and you have a feeling you are going to be found out then just realize this is normal. Its a syndrome and everyone is doing it.

[thefatbiker]

Wow. This shines a new light on what I have always seen as "self-doubt." Great clip.

[tigerbrowngirl]

I totally believe this. This all stems back to parents making sure they show their support for their kids despite failing - and in fact encouraging failing, on the soccer field, piano recitals, etc. Teachers need to do the same, perhaps there needs to be better ways to provide feedback on tests in the classroom. Lastly, Olivia is adorable.