Introduction
As a techie, especially those who have transitioned from a non-tech field. Do you feel like you do not belong or have the right to be called a tech-bro or sis? Perhaps you think it's impossible to succeed in the tech community, despite your skills and achievements.
Then I sense imposter syndrome there, and this article is written just for you. In this article, I share how to detect and manage imposter syndrome.
What Is Imposter Syndrome?
Most people call the feeling of doubt in their skills, abilities, and talent imposter syndrome. However, everyone feels doubt at some point in their life, so does that mean everyone has imposter syndrome? The answer is No, rather imposter syndrome simply means persistent thinking or fear of being caught, despite evidence of competence. As a result, you do not acknowledge your accomplishments. Instead, you believe you were just lucky and in no time would be caught 😬.
How Do You Know If You Have Imposter Syndrome?
Realizing its existence is the first step to managing imposter syndrome. There are certain habits we exhibit that make us know we have imposter syndrome which are:
Not acknowledging your competence, skills, and accomplishments, even when others do.
Always attribute achievements or success to luck, coincidence, or others' actions.
Persistent feelings or thoughts of "I can't do this"
Not applying for jobs you qualify for.
Taking on extra work to prove your worth
Not networking
Not accepting compliments or praise.
Easily intimidated by others.
Types of Imposter
There are five types of imposters, and knowing where you belong will give you a better edge on managing them.
1) The Natural Genius: They easily pick up new skills, expect to understand new concepts quickly, and then become discouraged when they don't succeed immediately.
2) The Perfectionist: They set super high standards for themselves, and see themselves as failures when they don't achieve their set goals. Instead, they focus on their mistakes, rather than their hard work and accomplishments.
3) The Superhero: They constantly push themselves to the limit, always striving to prove their worth. They do extra work, work harder than anyone else, and yet they still aren't satisfied.
4) The Soloist: They mostly prefer working alone and handling things independently, always rejecting offers of help, because they see it as a sign of weakness.
5) The Expert: They spend too much time in pursuit of knowledge, neglecting their main task. They believe they should know everything before considering their work a success.
How To Manage Imposter Syndrome.
Now that you know you have imposter syndrome and the type you struggle with, let's talk about how to manage it.
Be sincere to yourself in terms of growth.
Take time to celebrate your little wins.
Measure your growth i.e. maybe through journalling or doing something to keep track of your progress.
Don't doubt yourself, I believe we are all significant and unique in our own way.
Keep learning, unlearning, and relearning (choose progress over perfection).
The more you practice, the more comfortable you become. Keep going even if you aren't good yet.
Accept failure and improve on it.
Network, network, network. Never underestimate the power of connecting with like-minded people. It will make a big difference to your journey.
Wrapping up
It is easy to get intimidated when you are new to something, thinking others are better than you. No one started as a genius or an expert. It's continuous improvement, so keep doing things that make you better at what you do, internalize, and celebrate your accomplishments. Also, share your knowledge and network with people in and outside of your field. Believe me, you are not alone.
Do not hesitate to ask questions, or leave comments on this post. I am available on Twitter and LinkedIn feel free to connect with me.