It’s become the buzzword, the widespread phenomenon that has permeated lunch hour conversations — not just in the Makers office. But, of course, we’re talking about imposter syndrome. Known as a persistent feeling of self-doubt, making us believe that we could be exposed at any moment as a fraud, revealed as unworthy of our job title and not to be trusted. The worst part, its stagnant presence is a hard one to shift.
Those who have heard of this or are experiencing it are not alone. In a 2007 published paper named You’re Not Fooling Anyone, John Gravois found that 70% of people have felt imposter syndrome at some point in their careers.
So, why do so many of us feel like frauds, and what can we do about it? Let’s break it down.
The Imposter Phenomenon Explained
First, let’s begin with some history. The term ‘Imposter’ in this context was coined in 1970 by psychologists Suzanne Imes and Pauline Rose Clance in a research article titled “The Impostor Phenomenon in High Achieving Women: Dynamics and Therapeutic Intervention”, where initially, they thought it could only affect women:
“Thus, unlike men, who tend to own success as attributable to a quality inherent in themselves, women are more likely either to project the cause of success outward to an external cause (luck) or to a temporary internal quality (effort) that they do not equate with inherent ability.”
In recent years, many research scholars have admitted that anyone can develop the disorder, recognising it can be more prevalent in women, particularly in STEM fields. Perhaps this is because women are usually the minority in the room, and one of imposter syndrome’s leading causes is the feeling of not belonging.
Imes and Clance attribute three critical attributes to the phenomenon,
- Thinking your abilities are exaggerated in the eyes of others
- Fear of being found out as a fraud
- Continuously downplaying your accomplishments
Identifying Imposter Syndrome in yourself
It’s not uncommon for a person to describe themself as a perfectionist, but are you so hard on yourself that if your work isn’t perfect, you don’t accept praise for it? When unable to achieve perfectionist goals, those with IS often feel exhausted, disappointed and view themselves as failures despite completing the project to an excellent standard. They’ll still believe their success is due to luck rather than merit. Consequently, imposters begin to forbid themselves from accepting positive feedback on their work, creating a vicious cycle in the workplace.
Why do ‘I’ suffer from this?
Multiple factors such as personality traits and family background may contribute to imposter syndrome. For example, families that place a high value on overachieving may create an environment of constant criticism instead of encouragement. Similarly, expectations in society, work environment, or simply how people treat us can all have a negative effect and cause us to develop imposter syndrome.
Why do programmers often suffer from imposter syndrome?
Although this feeling is prevalent in the tech world for women, as an entire industry, programmers of all levels experience it. It’s widespread among aspiring and junior developers who doubt whether they can work with senior developers on a project or team. This is, perhaps, due to the very nature of the tech industry. Developers will never completely understand all the approaches, languages, and methods out there, which isn’t the most comforting feeling, especially when starting out.
Wait. Could imposter syndrome be your superpower?
Now for the good news! Many have discussed that imposter syndrome is a sort of superpower. By having it, you’re more aware of what you’re not good at, and being self-aware is one of the most important things you can have when working with others and will be more empathic when those around you face challenges. As your self-awareness comes into play, you’re constantly pushing yourself and striving to improve. Sure, it can feel good to be a big fish in a small pond, but if you’re never feeling out of your element, you also aren’t challenging yourself to reach your full potential.
At Makers, the developers face intense challenges every day. Among the classic challenges are self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and always comparing themselves to others experiencing similar stresses.
Our Joy Office Chief, Dana, who is always on hand to assist our students, provided insight on why comparing yourself to others can lead to unhappiness and how you can change it:
“It’s helpful to remember that we all have struggles. While others might make it look easier than it is, there’s always some burden that they’re carrying. When you realise you’re comparing yourself to others in an unhealthy way, say out loud: “I’ve gone into comparing-mode, how is this helping me?” Get curious and choose thoughts that move you forward. Voicing it makes it real and lets you take ownership of it.”
7 ways to manage imposter syndrome
1. Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
Understanding and accepting that imposter syndrome is never truly gone is imperative. Take comfort in the fact that most high achievers suffer from imposter syndrome. So start to internalise your successes and enjoy them!
2. Avoid negative energy
It’s vital to surround yourself with people who will clap for you when you win and encourage you when you fall. Don’t allow negative energy to hinder your progress or discourage you from believing in your accomplishments.
3. Say “Yes” to opportunities
One of the main setbacks of imposter syndrome is not taking risks for the fear that they will fail. However, pushing yourself to take on new challenges can open many doors. Trust your capabilities and take on career-enhancing opportunities.
4. Find the Power in Networking
You should attend meet-ups, community events, webinars and expose yourself and your skillset to similar-minded people. In any case, you will find people within your industry who may be facing the same issues as you.
5. Tame your social media use
A constant focus on comparison can result in a painful cycle, in which those suffering from low self-esteem can make them feel even worse. Too much use of social media can worsen imposter syndrome and make you feel like an underachiever.
6. Create a sheet to celebrate your achievements
Document who you are, your skills, and what makes you stand out. Refer to it every single time you feel incompetent. Keeping track of your accomplishments and regularly reflecting on your successes can help remind you how far you’ve come and how good you are.
7. Realise you’re not an imposter. You’re pretty amazing!
If you enjoyed this article, you might be interested in the following event.
Makers are hosting an IRL event called The Show Up List on the 24th of March. This workshop will teach you how to self-promote, build your personal brand, and manage imposter syndrome. This event is always open to women and allies in any career field!
We hope to see you there!
About the Author
The Makers team is dedicated to transforming lives by building inclusive pathways into tech careers. With a mission to align their success with their students' success, Makers challenges traditional education models by integrating training with employment support, helping aspiring developers find roles where they can thrive.
