Having imposter syndrome when you're the boss is hard, but weirdly it might make you better at your job

• This edition of Insider's work-advice column is about how managers can cope with imposter syndrome.
• Research suggests that people who feel imposter thoughts demonstrate superior interpersonal skills.

I'm an Asian woman in my early 40s, and I'm about five months into a new, big-time job at a well-known publisher. I oversee a team of 30 people, and I have a lot of responsibility to the executive leadership at my company.

For the first time in my career, I'm suffering from some major imposter syndrome. In my worst moments, I don't feel like I am smart enough to be in the job I'm in. The other day I was in a Zoom meeting with colleagues talking about economic themes in our lineup of books. Everyone in the meeting seemed so well read and knowledgeable — the stuff they said sounded so impressive. I didn't know what to say. I didn't feel qualified to even talk.

Then there's the people-management part of my job. My direct reports are needy, and they often come to me with their struggles — an argument they're in with a colleague or a challenge they're facing with an author, as well as difficulties that have to do with juggling too many things at once. It's my job to offer support and help them problem-solve. Mostly it's gratifying, but it's exhausting at times, too. I don't have all the answers.

My question is: Who lifts me up? I don't have any peers per se at my company. I don't have coworkers to vent to or to tell me I'm great. Are you going to tell me that it's lonely at the top and I need to get used to it? Or is there something I can do to feel better about myself and my place at the company?

Imposter syndrome, which is characterized by gnawing fears and self-doubt that persist despite your experience and accomplishments, is common. Research suggests that about 70% of the population have experienced imposter thoughts at some point in their careers, and surveys suggest that women and people of color are disproportionately affected. You're not alone.

But while plenty of ink and pixels have been devoted to helping people overcome these lingering feelings of inadequacy — common tactics include interrupting negative self-talk, seeking positive feedback, and meditating — a new line of research by Basima Tewfik at the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology indicates that there are some unexpected benefits of imposter syndrome. Weirdly, it can make you better at your job.

Tewfik's peer-reviewed paper — which is based on a series of field studies and experiments she conducted on workers at an investment advisory firm, physicians in training at a hospital, and two sets of employees across a range of industries who were asked to interview for promotions — showed that people who had imposter thoughts on the job also demonstrated superior interpersonal skills. This is because they seemed to adopt a more "other-focused" orientation: They listened better, asked more questions, offered encouragement, and showed empathy. They also had better body language: They nodded more frequently and made direct eye contact.

Importantly, their overall job performance didn't suffer. The doctors in training made the same number of correct diagnoses as their counterparts, and the job candidates advanced to formal interviews at the same rate as the others. What seems to be happening is that people with imposter syndrome subconsciously compensate for their perceived lack of competence by trying to succeed interpersonally.

So, what does all this mean for you? Tewfik advised engaging in "cognitive reappraisal" — a wonky term that means thinking differently about a situation. "The very fact that you're in the room means you're qualified, and your interpersonal skills probably have a lot to do with where you are," she said. "If you choose to talk in a meeting, you're going to do it well because that's where you shine."

The same goes for your dealings with your direct reports. Studies showed that the qualities employees most craved and appreciated in leaders were authenticity and empathy. They don't want a boss who's a subject-matter expert and who seems to know everything. They want a generous listener.

"You're wrapped up in perfection and putting pressure on yourself to be the person who has all the answers," said W. Brad Johnson, a professor of psychology at the United States Naval Academy. "But what people want is humility — someone who's not afraid to say, 'I don't know the answer to that. What's on your mind? What am I not seeing?'"

This all might seem like cold comfort. Despite the silver lining of imposter syndrome, these thoughts still make you feel bad. The last thing you need is me (and some academics) telling you not to worry about your dented self-esteem because you're such a good listener.

You need people in your life to lean on and lift you up: an inner circle of folks who offer support and help you troubleshoot. These people don't need to be in your company — or even in your industry. In fact, they might be more rejuvenating for you if they're outside it. You need some friends. Find your tribe.