ACT - W: Fear and Self-Loathing in IT - Imposter Syndrome

This is NOT a how-to 
@OakParkGirl Angela@PolarisSolutions.com

Who the heck am I?
Angela@PolarisSolutions.com Twitter: @OakParkGirl

But who do I feel like most days?

Angela is not a trained psychologist
Angela most definitely suffers from imposter
syndrome
Also, there is a non-zero chance that I am
terrified that you all think I am full of crap!

Angela@PolarisSolutions.com
Twitter: @OakParkGirl
What the @!%&?

Impostor syndrome[1] is a psychological phenomenon in which
people are unable to internalize their accomplishments. Despite
external evidence of their competence, those with the syndrome
remain convinced that they are frauds and do not deserve the
success they have achieved. Proof of success is dismissed as
luck, timing, or as a result of deceiving others into thinking they
are more intelligent and competent than they believe themselves
to be.
Notably, impostor syndrome is particularly common among high-
achieving women. ~Wikipedia

Notably, impostor syndrome is particularly common
among high-achieving women.

Angela@PolarisSolutions.com Twitter:
@OakParkGirl

Researchers believe that up to 70% of people have
felt the effects of impostor syndrome at some point

The Imposter Test: http://paulineroseclance.com/pdf/IPscoringtest.pdf
“When people praise me for something I’ve accomplished,
I’m afraid I won’t be able to live up to their expectations of me in
the future”
“I’m afraid people important to me may find out that I’m not as
capable as they think I am”
“I rarely do a project or task as well as I’d like to do it”
“I often compare my ability to those around me and think they
may be more intelligent than I am”

40 or less = respondent has few IS characteristics
41 to 60 = respondent has moderate IS experiences
61 to 80 = respondent frequently has Impostor feelings
80+ = respondent often has intense IS experiences

IT Evangelist: 40
Graphic Designer: 74
Senior Developer: 67
Dietician: 69IT Consultant: 77
Screen Printer: 73
Librarian: 71
Agile coach: 74
Interior Designer: 55
IT Director: 77
ALM Consultant: 87
Industrial Plumber: 54
SAHM: 39
Lawyer: 53
Freelance Writer: 30
IT Manager: 55
IT Consultant: 55
Scenic Painter: 71
SAHM: 52
Biology Teacher: 65
Network Administrator: 39
Audio Engineer: 67
Lawyer: 89
Management Consultant: 67
http://paulineroseclance.com/pdf/IPscoringtest.pdf
Senior Developer: 70
SAHM: 69
Academic Coach: 57
Kindergarten Teacher: 56

Being an “expert” is overrated
An expert is just someone who has effed up
something more than you
Being a beginner is pretty amazing!

Most “experts” had no freaking clue what they
were doing…
Until they DID

Why do we strive to be an expert?

Fear is an emotion induced by a threat perceived by living
entities, which causes a change in brain and organ function and
ultimately a change in behavior, such as running away, hiding or
freezing from traumatic events.

But what are we all so afraid of?
Being wrong?
Not having ALL of the answers?
Being/looking vulnerable?
Getting Fired?
Not being “perfect”?

To be ___________ , I have to be perfectemployablerespectablelovableenough

Perfection is the enemy of good

So what can you do about it?

Recognize how you’re feeling
Go ahead and feel it
And stop beating yourself up about it

It encourages us to push ourselves to learn
It fosters innovation
It teaches us humility

In Judaism humility is an appreciation of oneself, one's talents,
skills, and virtues. It is not meekness or self-deprecating thought,
but the effacing of oneself to something higher.
Humility is not to think lowly of oneself, but to appreciate the self
one has received.
~ Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

Acting with humility is a RESPONSIBLE way
to participate in the IT community
ANY community

What else?

Find something you suck at and then be the
best you can be at that thing

Then take that thing you’re really good at
now, and teach someone else to do it

Nothing helps you realize just how much we
don’t know like mentoring someone
Nothing helps you realize just how much you
have to offer like mentoring someone

Be OK with taking risks
Be ok with being vulnerable
Be OK with asking for help

“A manager’s job is not to prevent risks but it is their job
to make it safe to take them.”
~ @dneighbors
You don’t have to be a manager to be a leader!

Nothing makes you rethink how you
represent yourself, accept and give praise,
and react to others missteps like having
others look to you as a model for behavior!

Because people are watching

Recognize when others are feeling like imposters
Create a safe environment for sharing ideas and asking
questions
Shut down bad behavior as soon as you see it

Email: Angela@PolarisSolutions.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andugan
Slideshare.NET: http://www.slideshare.net/angelabinkowski
Twitter: @OakParkGirl, @ChicagoALM, @TeamPolaris
Blog - http://www.tfswhisperer.com/
Polaris Solutions website - http://www.polarissolutions.com/

Managing Humans - $18
Getting Naked ~$20
The Art of Asking ~$18
The Authenticity Paradox ~$0
Angela’s Slide decks: http://www.slideshare.net/angelabinkowski

ACT - W: Fear and Self-Loathing in IT - Imposter Syndrome

ACT - W: Fear and Self-Loathing in IT - Imposter Syndrome

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ACT - W: Fear and Self-Loathing in IT - Imposter Syndrome