Ever found yourself doubting your achievements, feeling like a fraud at work despite clear evidence of your capabilities? That gnawing doubt – specifically, that others might see you as smarter or more competent than you feel – is impostor syndrome.

It can strip you of your confidence, dim your self-esteem and fuel anxiety. It’s not just a women’s issue; men are just as susceptible.

What if I told you it may not be all bad? Impostor thoughts, while often labelled as wholly negative, might just have a silver lining.

Intriguingly, Basima Tewfik, an assistant professor at MIT Sloan School of Management, has conducted a series of studies that suggest this self-doubt might have an unexpected upside. Her findings reveal that impostor thoughts can lead you to overcompensate in one critical area: interpersonal relationships, which are invaluable in most careers.

In one of her studies involving doctors in training, those who frequently experienced impostor thoughts were significantly better at handling delicate interactions with patients, receiving higher ratings on their interpersonal skills from that group.

In another study, job candidates who felt like impostors asked more questions during informal pre-interview chats. This made them appear more engaged and personable – qualities that hiring managers often equate with strong people skills.

Why does this happen?

At the heart of it, feeling like an impostor often pushes people to be more “other-oriented”. You become more sensitive to others’ perceptions and feelings, which can make you unexpectedly more likable and approachable. It’s as if your inner critic, while tough on you, inadvertently polishes your social antennae.

There’s no strong empirical evidence suggesting that impostor thoughts negatively affects one’s performance. In Tewfik’s studies, doctors with impostor thoughts were as accurate in their diagnoses as more confident peers, and job candidates with these doubts didn’t face disadvantage in securing interview invitations.