Two people can feel equally unqualified after a promotion and respond in completely different ways. One takes on extra work to prove they deserve it. The other avoids visible projects in case they make a mistake.
Impostor feelings can push someone toward overachievement, hesitation, or a mix of both. The feelings themselves don’t dictate the outcome. What matters is how a person interprets them, what they do to cope, and whether their surroundings make it easier or harder to take healthy risks.
The same doubt can lead to different coping strategies
Impostor feelings often involve worrying that you don’t deserve your achievements or that other people will discover you’re less capable than they think. That worry creates pressure. People respond to pressure in different ways.
For some, the response is to work harder. They might prepare excessively, accept every assignment, or stay late to make sure no one can question their ability. From the outside, this can look like ambition. Inside, the driving force may be fear of being exposed.
For others, the response is to pull back. They may avoid applying for a role, delay sharing an idea, or turn down a challenging task. Avoiding the situation can bring short-term relief, but it also means missing chances to learn and demonstrate what they can do.
Some people switch between these patterns. They may overprepare for a presentation but avoid asking for a promotion. Their response can depend on the task, the people involved, or how much is at stake.
Why one person may overwork while another holds back
They may define safety differently
If someone believes mistakes will expose them as a fraud, extra preparation can feel like protection. They may think, “If I check everything one more time, nobody can criticize me.” Another person may decide that the safest option is not to take on a task that could go wrong.
Both are attempts to manage the same fear. One moves toward the challenge with protective rules; the other avoids the challenge altogether.
They may have different standards for success
A person who sees success as needing to perform perfectly may respond to doubt by doing more and more. Even a strong result may not feel like enough if they believe it only counts when everything goes smoothly.
Someone who expects a mistake to prove they’re incapable may be more likely to delay or withdraw. In both cases, the standard leaves little room for ordinary learning.
Their environment can change the stakes
People don’t experience self-doubt in a vacuum. A supportive manager who gives clear, useful feedback can make it safer to ask questions or try something unfamiliar. A critical or unpredictable environment may make a person more guarded.
Being new to a role, working with unfamiliar expectations, or feeling underrepresented can also make it harder to judge whether a setback is a normal learning moment or a sign that you don’t belong. The same person may feel capable in one setting and exposed in another.
When impostor feelings appear to help—and when they take over
Impostor feelings can sometimes prompt useful preparation. A person who doubts themselves might review their work carefully, ask for feedback, or make a plan before taking on a new responsibility. Those actions can help, provided they stay proportionate to the task.
The difficulty comes when preparation becomes a condition for acting. If you can’t share your work until it feels flawless, or you keep accepting extra tasks to earn the right to rest, the strategy may be costing more than it gives back.
Holding back has its own costs. Avoiding a stretch opportunity may reduce anxiety today, but it can also keep you from gaining experience that would help you feel more settled next time.
That doesn’t mean everyone must push through every doubt. Sometimes a role really is a poor fit, expectations are unreasonable, or more training would help. The aim is to distinguish a practical concern from a fear that treats any uncertainty as proof of unworthiness.
How to tell which pattern you’re in
Look at what you do after the feeling appears, rather than judging yourself for having it. Ask:
- What am I trying to prevent? A mistake, criticism, rejection, or being seen as inexperienced?
- Is my response helping with the task? Or am I working, checking, or avoiding mainly to calm the fear?
- What would be a reasonable next step? One more review, a direct question, or a small attempt?
For example, before presenting an idea at work, you might notice yourself rewriting the slides for the fifth time. Ask whether another revision will make the main point clearer. If not, choose a stopping point and practice explaining the idea once.
If you’re avoiding an opportunity, make the next step smaller. You could ask what the role involves, request feedback on a relevant skill, or volunteer for one part of a larger project. You don’t have to leap from doubt to total confidence.
Choose a response that builds evidence, not just relief
A useful response should address the real task and give you a chance to learn. Try replacing an automatic coping move with a specific action:
- Instead of taking on extra work to prove yourself, agree on what a good result requires.
- Instead of waiting until you feel fully ready, identify one skill you can practice in a low-stakes setting.
- Instead of dismissing praise, ask what part of your work was effective and record the feedback.
- Instead of assuming a mistake means you don’t belong, name what happened and what you can adjust next time.
Keep the goal modest: make the next choice based on the situation, not only on the urge to escape doubt. Over time, that can help you see whether your caution is useful—or whether it has become a rule that keeps you stuck.
If these feelings are driving persistent overwork, serious distress, or avoidance that limits your daily life, talking with a qualified mental health professional may be worth considering.
Related Articles
- Why People Struggle With Impostor Feelings—and How to Cope
- Why Self-Doubt Drives Some People Forward—and Holds Others Back
- Why Do Impostor Feelings Get Worse Under Stress?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can impostor feelings make someone more successful?
They may lead someone to prepare carefully or seek feedback, which can support good work. But the feelings are not necessary for achievement, and overwork driven by fear can have real costs.
Why do I feel like an impostor in some situations but not others?
Confidence can shift with the task, the people involved, your experience, and how safe it feels to make mistakes. Feeling capable in one area doesn’t require feeling equally certain everywhere.
Are impostor feelings the same as low self-esteem?
They can overlap, but they are not identical. Impostor feelings often focus on whether you deserve a particular success or will be exposed as less capable than others believe.
How can I stop overworking to prove I belong?
Set a clear definition of “done” before starting, and check whether each extra task is required or mainly meant to earn reassurance. Ask a manager or colleague to clarify priorities when expectations are unclear.
Final Thoughts
Impostor feelings can lead to opposite results because people cope with doubt in different ways. One person may work harder to feel safe; another may step back to avoid being judged. Neither response, by itself, proves anything about their ability.
When self-doubt shows up, notice what it is pushing you to do. Then choose one reasonable action that helps you meet the actual challenge—not just quiet the fear for a moment.
