South Asian employees' experiences of Imposter Phenomenon

Imposter phenomenon (IP), a lack of self‐belief in one's competence, is recognised as a barrier to career progression. This study explores workplace experiences of IP among ethnic minority South Asian employees in the UK, including perceived drivers and impacts. The findings aim to inform evidence‐based interventions to develop and support South Asian and other ethnic minority employees in the workplace. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 15 South Asian employees across various sectors in the UK, recruited via a snowball sampling approach. Interview recordings were transcribed and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. We identified four key themes in South Asian employees' experiences of impostorism. Themes 1 and 2 relate to the internalised socio‐cultural beliefs and organisational factors that influence the development of IP. Theme 3 encompasses the perceived impact IP has on employees, while Theme 4 focuses on coping mechanisms. As South Asians are not a homogenous group, further research taking an intersectional approach is needed to understand nuances within and between minority groups. These may include the potential influence on IP of generational identity, socio‐economic status, and religious diversity. We identify unique drivers and impacts of IP related to South Asian socio‐cultural norms and beliefs and provide a new conceptual model. Methodologically, this study addresses two gaps within the IP literature by sampling the working population and South Asian employees.