“Our ability to manufacture fraud now exceeds our ability to detect it.” – Al Pacino

Are you practicing career fraud?

An interesting question to ponder. Maybe worth a few minutes of self-examination?

First Installment

Let’s explore what career fraudulence is not, and then consider what it might be.

What it’s not is a strikingly similar concept, but from a different angle and with a different result: the imposter syndrome. Dr. Pauline Ross’ coining of that term in 1985 launched a slew of books, spin-offs and trainings.

Harvard Business Review defines “imposter syndrome” as:

“a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success. ‘Impostors’ suffer from chronic self-doubt and a sense of intellectual fraudulence that override any feelings of success or external proof of their competence. They seem unable to internalize their accomplishments, however successful they are in their field. High-achieving, highly successful people often suffer, so impostor syndrome doesn’t equate with low self-esteem or a lack of self-confidence.”

The results of imposter syndrome often express through anxiety, depression and cynicism in the individual which, as it impacts the workplace, can foster less risk-taking, isolation and burnout. Enormously costly to an organization! No wonder many leading companies address this condition outright through internal training and development programs.

Now, let’s explore what career fraudulence might be. Consider the following working definition of career fraud and the results it may portend:

“a self-determined condition of finding oneself succeeding along a particular career path and even demonstrating exceptional talent in a field, often lauded, positioned well and held in high regard, with the associated increases in stature, status and wealth generally accompanying standard concepts of success, yet possessing strongly convicted internal beliefs or even a heartfelt knowing that this work is not in alignment with ‘who you really are.'”

While the results of this particular “syndrome” are of little cost to the organization – because, after all, the individual is a rockstar in the eyes of the company, fellow executives, stockholders, investors, etc. – the cost to the individual can be enormous and result in many lost years of enjoying authentic career and life satisfaction reflective of one’s true self. The correlated costs in terms of mental, emotional, and physical health, well-being and longevity can only be conjectured until deeper research occurs. But one can imagine it to be huge.

How does one assess if they are, in fact, a career fraud?

Let’s agree upfront that it won’t be a simple litmus test. Remember, these folks are so buoyed up in support of their less authentic exterior – and, one might even say, locked into it – that to consider themselves as inauthentic would require their willingness to do an honest double take on themselves and a fearless moral inventory to inquire beneath the shiny objects of proof to the contrary. It’s possible that one can be damn good and still trapped.

Yet, if the idea itself grabs the attention, it may be a sign that there’s gold in them thar hills. If the “true” fits. . .

More to come on this as I begin to design such an assessment.

But in the meantime, if this brought up smoke and you’d like to determine if there’s actual fire, do a little exploration and journaling around:

• What was it you first wanted to do in life, and how did that get expressed, resolved, or rationalized away?
   
• Have you ever considered, no matter how positioned or polished you are in your current career, that there might be something reflecting a truer expression of you?

• If there were an actual shift in career path that would be more in congruence with the real you, what are the very valid reasons why you could never attempt to make that shift? And what are the very valid reasons why you couldn’t afford not to? Compare.

No leading of the witnesses here. And there’s no black and white. As in all things, there are many shades of grey. Yet, even if you come out of this little exercise a tad more clear that you may be missing the road less travelled of full-Self career expression, isn’t it worth the inquiry?

I’d really love to hear what you see for yourself, so please follow up with me personally. Just beginning this research in earnest, I’d highly appreciate your empirical input.

And if this triggered a sliver of questioning of your particular career lot in life, I invite you to join the CareerGuy Executive Passion & Purpose Breakout on March 27, where we will explore a bit deeper.

The CareerGuy Passion & Purpose Breakout!

Think differently, play better.

Radically,

Darrell

CareerGuy and Back Forty Freedom Flier

P.S. Watch out for the Second Installment of this inquiry in the next newsletter.

“Rather fail with honor than succeed by fraud.”  – Sophocles