ARTICLES

Harvard Business Review, 2006, # 83 (8), pp.108-116.
Translated into Spanish in "Expansion México", special supplement Best of Management

In many walks of life and business is no exception there are some high achievers who believe that they are complete fakes. To the outside observer these individuals appear very accomplished; they are extremely successful in their chosen field. Despite their accomplishments, however, they feel as if they are sailing under false colors; they have the subjective experience of being a fraud. This article describes that "neurotic imposture" a kind of behavior that causes a great many extremely talented, hardworking, and capable executives–men and women who have achieved great success by the world's standards–to believe, deep down, that they don't deserve it. Such "neurotic impostors have difficulty accepting and enjoying the success they earn. This article describes the indicators of neurotic imposture, its origin, and ways of coping with feeling like a fraud. Within the context of feeling like a fraud, perfectionism, workaholism, and work paralysis are also discussed, along with their organizational ramifications.