Recalibrating Self-Assessment: Navigating Imposter Syndrome Through Metacognitive Reflection

Abstract

Background

Accurate self-assessment is foundational for life-long learning, professional development and patient safety, yet many learners struggle to develop this fundamental skill. Even skilled self-assessors—or savvy calibrators—may sometimes struggle with self-assessment accuracy, particularly during professional transitions and challenges. This study explored the metacognitive processes employed by high-performing physicians to maintain or recalibrate accurate self-assessment across diverse professional contexts.

Methods

Former chief residents, who we defined as high-performing physicians by virtue of earning the chief role via a competitive application and vetting process, were purposefully sampled. Semistructured interviews were used to explore participants' experiences regarding self-assessment accuracy, imposter syndrome and managing feelings of self-doubt. The study employed Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis.

Findings

The findings reveal that all 10 participants effectively recalibrated their self-assessments when confronted with imposter syndrome by incorporating metacognitive reflection, feedback and emotional awareness. The metacognitive reflection work they carried out to confront imposter syndrome harnessed a growth mindset, but participants cautioned that this orientation needed to be adopted in moderation.

Conclusion

Findings provided valuable insights and strategies for individuals grappling with imposter syndrome, a prevalent issue in medicine, particularly among high performers. This study highlights the potential for enhancing professional development and well-being by fostering self-assessment skills through metacognitive reflection to constructively adopt a growth mindset to overcome imposter syndrome. While feedback seeking could support calibration, our findings revealed that an excessive focus on growth mindset can shift from productive to counterproductive—creating a risky cycle of self-doubt and overcorrection.