There’s a good chance that at some point in our careers that we have felt like an imposter while we are at work. We are just waiting for someone to ask the question that is going to bring our credibility as information professionals into question and our covers will be blown, but what can we do about this feeling?
Librarians learn about imposter syndrome
The NNLM MCR was proud to support a workshop hosted by the St. Louis Medical Librarians and the St. Louis Metro Area Chapter of SLA on the challenging topic of imposter syndrome. Cynthia Bassett, the Electronic Services Librarian at the University of Missouri Law School Library, visited the group to provide a workshop on imposter syndrome, a topic that over time she has become increasingly more interested in and that we all deal with but rarely want to talk about. Cynthia broke down what imposter syndrome is, the imposter cycle, and the five different types of imposter syndrome, which include the Perfectionist, the Superwoman/Superman, the Natural Genius, the Rugged Individualist, and the Expert. She also helped the attendees realize that they were in good company by telling the audience about notable celebrities, dignitaries, and authors who deal with imposter syndrome. Cynthia provided a lot of great strategies to help all of us deal with our own battles with imposter syndrome, such as practicing self-compassion.
So remember the next time that you feel like you are about to be discovered as a phony, it may be imposter syndrome creeping its way in. The NNLM MCR is looking to offer more programming in the area of imposter syndrome and building up professional confidence. If you have any questions about this program or the area of library engagement, please contact Chris Pryor at 573-884-5042 or pryorc@missouri.edu.
-Chris Pryor, Library Engagement/Missouri Coordinator