Sean Martin, University of Virginia, on having imposter syndrome: “It’s also a sign that others think highly of you”
The university professor has opened up on what it means to have impostor syndrome.
Sometimes, you just feel out of place. Whether that’s down to experience, pressure, or a lack of support, the sensation of not being good enough is unfortunately a common one.
Sean Martin, a scholar at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, has offered a refreshing reappraisal of what we commonly call “impostor syndrome.” Rather than viewing it purely as a self-doubt, his recent research suggests it can be a nuanced, and even beneficial, signal.
Martin, along with Basima Tewfik of MIT Sloan, and Jeremy Yip of Georgetown, co-authored a major integrative review that looked into nearly five decades of psychological studies. What he found was striking: over time, the definition of impostor syndrome had blurred, and in many ways was mischaracterised. Originally coined to describe a cognitive feeling, it had morphed in popular discourse into a catch-all for shame, belongingness issues, or low self-esteem.
Imposter syndrome can really cripple you if you don’t overcome it soon enough.
— kamo (@kamogelx) November 7, 2025
You’ll always feel inferior/not good enough and miss out on some great growth opportunities.
Impostor syndrome “not something that is going to last forever”
“When we dug into the literature it became incredibly clear, incredibly quickly, that the definition of the term ‘impostor syndrome’ was all over the place,” he told Psychology Today.
Tewfik, instead of using imposter syndrome, coined the term “workplace impostor thoughts.” The shift in terminology, from “syndrome” to “workplace impostor thoughts”, helps emphasise that these feelings can ebb and flow: they are not permanent for anyone.
Martin’s analysis is simple: “People who are experiencing workplace impostor thoughts should recognise that this is not something that is going to last forever. It can pass. It’s also a sign that others think highly of you.”
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Instead of being a red flag, doubt could signal that you’re in fact working at a level where others already believe in your potential and are happy with your performance - hence why you’re there in the first place.
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