I speak on the subject of Imposter Syndrome quite often, and mainly to female audiences. Women often suffer from this silent assassin but l can assure you that as many men suffer from it as women. Men, however, are better at blagging their way through it.

Now new research shows that the tide of this syndrome has surged by 96% - according to the YouGov poll, One in six people suffer from it, ranging from the odd negative thought to a debilitating and crippling lack of self-confidence.

I hear it all the time from women but rarely do men admit to it. I have cert-ainly suffered from this over the years – and for absolutely no reason. It just seems to rise up and grab you by the throat, usually at surprising times. We need more men to talk about this as knowing you are not alone is one of the first steps to curing it.

It is not easy to cure this syndrome - akin to telling a manic depressive to pull themselves together! But there are things you can do:

Some of the most common causes of imposter syndrome are:  

• Overemphasis on criticism: Focusing excessively on criticism while downplaying positive feedback can reinforce feelings of inadequacy. The tendency to remember and magnify negative comments can contribute to the belief that one is not truly competent 

• Comparisons to others: Constantly measuring one's achievements against others can create a feeling of inadequacy, as individuals may perceive their accomplishments as inferior when compared to their peers. 

• Lack of recognition: When individuals don't receive sufficient acknowledgment for their efforts and accomplishments, they may doubt their abilities and feel like they are not truly deserving of their successes. 

• Social media pressure: The polished versions of success showcased on social media can create a sense of inadequacy, as individuals compare their real lives to the carefully curated images and achievements presented by others, fostering feelings of impostor syndrome. 

Five top tips to help those that are struggling with imposter syndrome  

• Accept praise and know your worth: Don’t shy away from praise and compliments. Accept your achievements and, if need be, write them down. When you try to talk yourself out of feeling confident in your role, all the proof is on paper. Knowing your worth means allowing your work to speak for itself and letting others see it too. 

• Stop thinking like an imposter: Learn to recognise self-defeating thought patterns and replace them with more positive affirmations. The only way to stop feeling like an imposter is to stop thinking of yourself as one. 

• Don’t seek perfection: Stop believing that if you don’t excel at every facet of your job that you’re a failure at all of it. Facing challenges and losses is a key part of growth, so recognise that you don’t have to be good at everything.

• Know you are not alone: Imposter syndrome tends to be the domain of overachievers, while underachievers tend to internalise less when faced with failure. If you’re constantly worried about not being good enough, chances are you’re in good company – most successful people constantly overanalyse themselves! 

Imposter syndrome was first documented in high-achieving women in the 1970s. While imposter syndrome is still more prevalent among women, and specifically women of colour, men are also susceptible to developing this mindset.

Imposter syndrome can be closely related to perfectionism, in which people feel pressure to perform at their absolute best, 100% of the time, and when they don’t, they feel incompetent and anxious. It’s helpful, although difficult, for people to change the way they view perfection to combat imposter syndrome.

In certain situations, turning to a colleague or mentor who understands one's feeling of insecurity can be advantageous. But research suggests that reaching out to people outside of one's academic or professional circle may be a better tool to combat imposterism. Those individuals can put the person's concerns into context, recalibrate their perspective, and offer support and love.

How can you prevent your child from developing imposter syndrome?

Two types of messages can spark imposter syndrome in children: constant criticism, which makes them feel like they’ll never be good enough, and universal, superlative praise (“You’re the smartest kid in the world!”), which instills high expectations and pressure. Parents can prevent imposter syndrome by praising effort not outcome, and by helping children realistically understand their strengths and weaknesses.

This syndrome is fixable and sufferers should take the steps above and begin the path to full confidence.