overcoming impostor syndrome
TRANSCRIPT
Overcoming Impostor Syndromebased on The Ada Initiative workshop http://adainitiative.org CC BY-SA
Timea Turdean
12/03/2016
About me
● Finished my master degree at the TU Vienna in Business Engineering and Computer Science
● 5+ years worked as developer, now as technical consultant
● Around 11 years of volunteering in different organizations – coordinating numerous projects
● I am from Transilvania and I like climbing
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Format of the workshop
● 15 min: Introduction● 5 min: Split into small groups● 20 min: “Take a compliment” exercise● 20 min: Values exercise● 20 min: Combating negative thoughts exercise● 5 min: Wrap-up
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Format of the workshop
● 15 min: Introduction● 5 min: Split into small groups● 20 min: “Take a compliment” exercise● 20 min: Values exercise● 20 min: Combating negative thoughts exercise● 5 min: Wrap-up
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Is this you?
“OH Crap! They are going to figure out I have absolutely no idea what
I am doing...”
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Is this you?
“I am not sure if I deserve a raise … my performance was not so good anyway”
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Is this you?
“My colleague is soooo much better at that than me. ”
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Impostor Syndrome
The feeling that you are a fraud or unqualified for the work you are already doing - faking it - and may be found out at
any moment
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Even the most successful people doubt themselves and have fears.
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WHY?
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“Did you get invited to the event just for the female quota?”
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“You aren't a backend programmer.”
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“Did you come to the event because of your boyfriend?”
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Why do you feel like an impostor
● Sexism says women can't be good at what it is you are doing
● People forget facts that don't fit their stereotypes (“prove-it-again bias”)
● People act surprised when you are good● People advise you to lower your ambitions● People tell you that you are an impostor
People treat you like an impostor
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What is the result
● We have less satisfaction in our lives● We waste time over-preparing and worrying instead of doing good work and having fun
● We are less effective as colleagues● We ask for less money● We don't ask for challenges● We don't ask for promotions or apply for jobs
You doubt yourself, you are less confident
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Overcoming Impostor Syndrome●Talk about it and share your own failures● Watch your self-deminishing language● Teach others what you know● Ask questions● Perspective check from a friend● List your accomplishments and own them● Practice accepting compliments● Talk to your colleagues and get the perpective of what is going on in the community/workplace
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Overcoming Impostor Syndrome● Talk about it and share your own failures●Watch your self-deminishing language● Teach others what you know● Ask questions● Perspective check from a friend● List your accomplishments and own them● Practice accepting compliments● Talk to your colleagues and get the perpective of what is going on in the community/workplace
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Overcoming Impostor Syndrome● Talk about it and share your own failures● Watch your self-deminishing language●Teach others what you know● Ask questions● Perspective check from a friend● List your accomplishments and own them● Practice accepting compliments● Talk to your colleagues and get the perpective of what is going on in the community/workplace
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Overcoming Impostor Syndrome● Talk about it and share your own failures● Watch your self-deminishing language● Teach others what you know●Ask questions● Perspective check from a friend● List your accomplishments and own them● Practice accepting compliments● Talk to your colleagues and get the perpective of what is going on in the community/workplace
19/31
Overcoming Impostor Syndrome● Talk about it and share your own failures● Watch your self-deminishing language● Teach others what you know● Ask questions●Perspective check from a friend● List your accomplishments and own them● Practice accepting compliments● Talk to your colleagues and get the perpective of what is going on in the community/workplace
20/31
Overcoming Impostor Syndrome● Talk about it and share your own failures● Watch your self-deminishing language● Teach others what you know● Ask questions● Perspective check from a friend●List your accomplishments and own them● Practice accepting compliments● Talk to your colleagues and get the perpective of what is going on in the community/workplace
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Overcoming Impostor Syndrome● Talk about it and share your own failures● Watch your self-deminishing language● Teach others what you know● Ask questions● Perspective check from a friend● List your accomplishments and own them●Practice accepting compliments● Talk to your colleagues and get the perpective of what is going on in the community/workplace
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Overcoming Impostor Syndrome● Talk about it and share your own failures● Watch your self-deminishing language● Teach others what you know● Ask questions● Perspective check from a friend● List your accomplishments and own them● Practice accepting compliments●Talk to your colleagues and get the perpective of what is going on in the community/workplace
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Excersises
● 20 min: “Take a compliment” exercise● 20 min: Values exercise● 20 min: Combating negative thoughts exercise
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Excersises
● Do exercises with your group● No one has to participate● No one has to report out● You can leave, switch tables, or come back at any time for any reason
● If someone is bothering you, come find me during discussion or break
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Take a copliment
Examples: ● “You are a good listener.“● “You work hard.“● “You did really great in the meeting.“● “I liked your input earlier, it gave us some good ideas.“● “Great idea in solving the bug.“
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Value exercise
Take your handouts and complete the exercise.At the end each group can voluntarily report on the results.
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Combating negative thoughts
Take your handouts and work on the last exercise:
“Thoughts record.“
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More resources● Denise Paolucci: “Overcoming Impostor Sydrome” (linux.conf.au 2013)
● Julie Pagano: “It's Dangerous to Go Alone” (PyCon 2014)● Mood Gym: https://moodgym.anu.edu.au/welcome● Slides, handout, guide for this workshop: http://adainitiative.org/continue-our-work/impostor-syndrome-training/
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thank you!