Do you consider yourself to be underqualified for the position you hold? Do you punish yourself when you make minor errors? You may sometimes lose yourself in a discussion about a new project if you are unfamiliar with the technology that the other developers are discussing.
It could be Imposter Syndrome!
What Is Imposter Syndrome?
A sense of imposter syndrome originates from acute self-doubt and is generally defined as feeling as if you are unworthy. It is a feeling of insecurity linked to professional achievements. You can feel fake and believe you don’t deserve your position at work. Imposter syndrome frequently makes you feel you’re deceiving your coworkers into thinking you’re competent at your job.
What Does Imposter Syndrome Look Like at Work?
Imposter syndrome can appear in various forms in the tech sector. Microaggressions based on race or gender, stereotype-based assumptions, and bias-based expectations are examples of external stimuli. These can lead to unfavorable workplace dynamics, such as rivalry among coworkers.
Internal triggers, such as a person’s background or personality type, can also cause imposter syndrome to develop. These triggers can lead to low self-esteem, self-doubt, and panic attacks.
Whatever the source of the stimulus, the result is always the same: a person’s feeling of pride and self-worth is diminished, which causes disappointment, feelings of hopelessness and sadness.
Imposter Syndrome Lies You Tell Yourself
1.) Everyone else is an expert in their field.
It might seem that the people around you are the most capable you have ever encountered, but they share the same insecurities as you. Try talking to your coworkers about their work journey. And always remember, you and your potential have nothing to do with other people.
2.) People mistakenly believe that my work is good, despite what they say.
This emotion is a typical sign of imposter syndrome. It’s among the most challenging hurdles to clear, especially for women. It may show that you have a perfectionist attitude, which, while it may seem impressive, can undermine your self-worth and confidence, which is why it is so difficult.
It’s a win-win situation if your work is credible and appropriate for the task and your supervisors are pleased with it. You completed your task. So give yourself a high five and tell yourself in your head, “I did a fantastic job today.”
3.) I’m a real imposter!
You are not an imposter unless you blatantly lied to obtain a job, a promotion, or an interview.
Do you know you are ineligible for the position even if you possess all of the necessary knowledge and expertise. That’s because you are overqualified. You could still be overqualified even if you have 70% of the required knowledge and expertise.
Pros of Imposter Syndrome
- Consistent learning.
The benefit of having imposter syndrome is that you’ll always be learning and getting better. This is advantageous because you will consistently seize chances for professional advancement.
- Increased productivity.
If you’re a perfectionist, you’ll constantly be trying to improve. This is advantageous because it implies that you will consistently deliver top-notch work and be a valuable addition to any digital organization.
- Excellent standards.
You have high standards if you are a natural genius or a superhero at work. Your superiors will undoubtedly notice this desire to produce the best possible outcome.
Cons of Imposter Syndrome
- Depression- A person suffering from imposter syndrome may suffer from depression. Depressive disorders can lead to unhealthy lifestyle choices and decisions.
- Self-doubt- Sometimes, a typical reaction to novel circumstances and obstacles is self-doubt. If it isn’t examined, it can also result in a lack of inspiration and motivation, which might make you give up on your chosen career path.
- Isolation- There are occasions when fear at work might lead to isolation. Your ability to grow personally and professionally may be hampered if you are hesitant to ask for assistance for fear of looking weak, being vulnerable, or feeling silly.
How to deal with Imposter Syndrome
You can take many steps if you personally experience imposter syndrome to lessen those feelings. The most crucial thing to remember is that you are not alone, and these feelings are normal. It’s easy to feel that your efforts aren’t good enough when you want to succeed. These emotions may eventually develop into imposter syndrome.
But you can get over imposter syndrome with time and effort. Here’s how!
Keep the facts in mind.
You experience imposter syndrome, making you doubt your workplace abilities. However, these emotions are frequently caused by fear rather than actuality. Distinguishing your feelings from the truth is the best defense against imposter syndrome.
You can focus on the facts rather than trying to stop your mind from making up stories. Remember the facts vs. stories of the circumstance the next time you find yourself in an environment that makes you feel like an imposter. For example, consider concentrating on what your team members stated if you feel awful about speaking up in a team meeting.
Keep score of your accomplishments.
One of the most challenging concepts to grasp when you feel like an imposter is how much of a part you played in your triumphs. You can attribute your success to chance or the labor of others, while in reality, your efforts, skills, and planning have a significant role.
Keeping track of your victories in a personal document will help you convince yourself that you are succeeding.
Find a mentor.
Enhancing your hard and soft skills can help you overcome imposter syndrome. In this way, you can retort whenever that inner voice tells you that you’re not good enough for something by saying that you’re improving.
To do that, finding a mentor is a fantastic idea. Find someone in your organization or industry who can help you and provide helpful advice. You may look up to a senior leader in this situation.
Accept new opportunities.
Saying “yes” to everything is impossible, particularly if you’re stressed or have too much on your plate. But imposter syndrome sufferers frequently decline career-advancing possibilities because they don’t believe they would perform well in the position.
When you’re given a new chance, it’s critical to discern between the voice in your head telling you that you’re incapable of doing it and the one telling you that you already have too much on your plate. The former is your imposter syndrome speaking.
Learn from your coworkers.
Comparing yourself to your colleagues and believing you are less competent than them is a typical imposter syndrome symptom. But there are ways to reframe these thoughts.
Try to take a step back the next time you are tempted to compare yourself to your peers and instead focus on what you can learn from them. Your team will likely include folks who are stronger in some areas than you are and vice versa. That doesn’t make you any less deserving; instead, it gives your team a chance to grow and thrive in your roles by learning from one another.
When you’re in a circumstance that makes you feel like an imposter, become conscious of the dialogue in your thoughts. Instead of telling yourself that they would find out you are not competent enough, understand that it takes time to get a hold of new responsibilities, and you can find solutions to any problems you encounter.
Instead of being intimidated by the achievements of your colleagues, feel happy that you can learn so much from them in your work journey.
Six Measures that Managers can take to avoid Imposter Syndrome among Team Members
If you are a team manager, you want to encourage your employees and lessen the possibility of imposter syndrome. Let’s examine a couple of approaches.
Be upfront about your expectations.
Your direct reports will better understand their performance if you communicate the job expectations, success measures, and progress checkpoints.
Give quick chances to connect.
Make sure everyone has plenty of opportunities to connect with other teammates and outline the road to success from day one.
Make communication standards clear.
It can be scary if team members are unsure of who or where to raise questions. In addition, team members may find it difficult to get past that first obstacle if they lack a clear understanding of the expectations for the team and communication.
Regularly check-in.
Consider adding a check-in to your 1:1 sessions to give the team members a place to share their progress. Team members are inspired to share their personal experiences when managers are open about their own.
Early and frequent feedback exchange.
Imposter syndrome usually has nothing to do with a team member’s position. However, positive and negative comments can help team members understand how they’re performing.
Assist them in pursuing their professional goals.
Sometimes, team members may not think they are competent at what they are doing. Engaging with team members’ job interests is the best method for managers to help counteract this feeling.
Don’t let Imposter Syndrome prevent you from Succeeding
It’s essential to remember that everyone has bad days, struggles with problems from time to time, and takes a bit longer to find solutions to projects.
Take some of the tips we’ve discussed here and put them into practice once you realize that Imposter Syndrome is affecting you. Remind yourself frequently of your accomplishments, and pay attention to compliments on your efforts.
Everyone should understand that you are only human and should not constantly strive for perfection.
Have you ever had imposter syndrome in your professional life? What advice would you provide to other programmers? Tell us in the comments section below!
