Feeling unworthy of your achievements is a horrible thing. It’s also hard to separate an actual skills gap from how you see yourself. A solution can be found in a perceptive mentor, but it can be hard to find that honest relationship.

The majority of designers I’ve worked with have, at some point, talked about feeling unsure of their abilities. In part, this is due to the ever-expanding range of skills that designers are expected to have, ranging from information architecture and service design to branding, graphic design, animation, marketing and copywriting.

Then there are people who are effortlessly confident, who laughed when we’ve talked about imposter syndrome. They had strong opinions and saw confidence as a big part of their job. It’s usually a sign of greater personal insecurity and a need to fit into an environment that punishes weakness. In either case, I’ve kept my distance.

A healthy level of imposter syndrome is when it brings the feeling that you could do things better and it motivates you to improve and maybe even adopt a beginner’s mindset. The problem comes when it’s a crushing feeling, one that’s discouraging and prevents you from changing or talking honestly.

Feeling like an imposter shows a level of self-awareness, curiosity and honesty. Leaning into the feelings of inadequacy and not having it overwhelm you (a difficult balance) can bring positive effects such as strong preparation, seeing perspectives that others miss, learning new skills and having a healthy ego.