Impostor Syndrome
Today at a Glance
Impostor Syndrome
My experience of impostor syndrome
What I’ve observed in others over the years
Ways to cope with impostor syndrome
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One of my favourite quotes related to impostor syndrome
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Impostor Syndrome
Introduction
‘Oh shit, I’m getting fired!’ I hadn’t heard my boss sneak up behind me. He put his hand on my shoulder and I jumped six inches. I slowly turned around, already feeling sick. I’d been found out.
“How are you doing?” he asked. I struggled to get out that I was fine, and that was it. He left as quickly as he’d arrived. ‘I survived this time,’ was all that I could think.
Looking back, of course I wasn’t getting fired. I’d been at the company for two weeks and had done nothing to measure my performance good or bad. But that thought never really left me.
Why it matters
The worst part of this mentality, whether you call it impostor syndrome or otherwise, is that it rewards you with success because you try harder. Often the most conscientious staff do best, I’ve observed.
I’ve worked with numerous engineers that ask me, “am I doing okay?” Invariably I reply, “you’re smashing it!” They seem surprised but only slightly relieved.
In most cases these engineers continue to flourish with reassurance that they’re doing well. Over time they get more comfortable, but all it takes is a promotion or job change and they’re back where they started.
How to apply it
The first thing to realise is that no news is good news. As time goes on, you will get less praise from your manager. This doesn’t mean you’re not doing well, it just means they’re busy.
Nothing is ever as good, or ever as bad, as you think it is
It’s easy to look at others and feel inadequate. They’re more experienced, smarter, or doing a better job. Don’t compare yourself to others. Let me assure you, everyone has their good and bad points.
Try to think objectively about your work. Focus on the good points, not the bad. (The opposite is another damaging trait.) Unless you are getting regular poor performance feedback, you are not getting fired!
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“I am distressed, almost discouraged, and fatigued to the point of feeling slightly ill. What I am doing is no good, and in spite of your confidence I am very much afraid that my efforts will all lead to nothing.” - Claude Monet.
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