Imposter Syndrome in IT

I think imposter syndrome is a huge issue in IT. Here's why.

Common signs of Imposter Syndrome:

1. Attributing success to luck rather than skill
2. Comparing ourselves unfavorably to our peers
3. Setting unrealistic standards for ourselves
4. Feelings of self-doubt coupled with isolation

In my IT career I hardly went through one project without feeling all of the above. Since my tech days, I have had the good fortune to consult into over 25+ companies and work with hundreds of IT professionals in several different countries across the world, many of whom became friends that I can call on today. So I asked about 20 of them whether they think this is an issue and whether it impacts on personal wellness.

Their answer was a resounding, YES!

So I dug a bit deeper... i.e. I asked ChatGPT :p

Me > "What's the best chatgpt prompt that a IT person could use to learn about imposter syndrome?"        

>> ChatGPT: A suitable prompt for an IT professional seeking to learn about Imposter Syndrome could be: "Could you explain Imposter Syndrome and its impact on individuals in the IT industry? How can IT professionals recognize and overcome feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt associated with Imposter Syndrome?" This prompt allows for a comprehensive exploration of the topic, including definitions, common manifestations within the IT sector, and strategies for addressing it effectively.        

Imposter Syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where individuals doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent fear of being exposed as a "fraud" despite evidence of their competence. In the IT industry, where rapid technological advancements and complex projects are the norm, Imposter Syndrome can be particularly prevalent due to the high expectations and constant pressure to stay updated with evolving technologies. ... ChatGPT, being correct as always.

So what do we do about it?

Here's what ChatGPT suggested to me, and my reality check...

ChatGPT >> To overcome Imposter Syndrome, IT professionals can employ various strategies:

1. Acknowledge Achievements

>> Keep a record of accomplishments, certifications, and positive feedback from peers or supervisors. Reflecting on past successes can help counteract feelings of inadequacy.

We call that "chasing certificates" and "maintaining my CV", a high stress endeavor that leads you down an endless rabbit hole of "What exam must I write next in order to prove I'm not a fraud / escape from this hell-hole job I find myself in?"

On the upside, having a log of every project you have contributed to adds some credence to your claims of "Yes I have done that before."

• Add Projects to your LinkedIn profile is a nice way to explain what your job role actually entails (because, erm, do any of your official job roles? describe what you actually did in that job?). You can also include the people who worked with you on that project, which comes in handy 5 years down the line.

2. Challenge Negative Thoughts

>> Practice cognitive restructuring by questioning and reframing negative self-talk. Replace self-critical thoughts with more realistic and positive affirmations.

I found this a helpful thing to get right. You can agree with yourself that old hang-ups and past failures have simply added to your experience and your wisdom. BUT, if you're just getting started in IT, this one might not be for you. Positive self-talk is not going to help you prevent introducing security vulnerabilities into your code.

• Admit when you don't know what you're doing, it'll help avoid negative self-talk in future.

Having said that, here's a reality check ... maybe you're not the problem.

If you are in a company that has systemic issues and does not have a mature approach to governing IT, you are screwed. No amount of "positive affirmations" or "bottom-up" attempts to introduce efficiency or "pro-active initiatives" is going to help change things. Rather change jobs, and get into a more senior position where you can call the shots. Also, move into a company that aligns with your values and is doing something you want to contribute to (if you need help with that: https://knowwhatskills.company.site/products/Career-Pathfinder-Make-your-career-work-for-you-p636918525)

The types of negative thoughts you need to avoid in that (all too common) situation include:

• There are no jobs out there (you only need one, just one - or maybe you don't need a job, maybe it's time to stretch your wings?)
• I won't make it through the interview process (interviews suck for sure, especially for software developers, but interviews are not always necessary if you know the right people and the right people know you - see point 3 below). Also checkout companies that are turning the job hunt process on it's head, after all, you're offering in-demand skills, companies should be coming to you, not the other way round - but if you have imposter syndrome you won't realise that so keep reading.)
• I'm too busy / tired / stressed to start looking for something new. That's a real thing, and that's why you should never stop looking, all the time, always, watch the job market as a kind of hobby. Until you start doing that, prioritise yourself, take some leave to get your energy and mojo in the right place. If you need more time than that, bargain down your salary (yes, that is an actual strategy I have used) in exchange for a four-day week (yes, it's a thing, even here in South Africa, https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/nicole-baumgarten-agile-consulting-and-coaching_southafrica-leadership-workbetter-activity-7138972393774952449-nobe?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop) . Calculate the percentage of lost earnings and percentage of gained time, and you'll see it's a net win for you. Having time during business hours to go to professional networking events and meet with the people mentioned in #3 below will boost your career waaaaay more than chatting at the smoker's corner on a Friday afternoon or "catching up on emails" ;)

3. Seek Feedback and Support

>> Engage with mentors, peers, or support groups within the IT community to gain perspective and validation. Constructive feedback can help individuals gain confidence in their abilities.

LOL, here's you crying into the ether... "Hey, could I find a mentor to help me navigate the unique digital ecosystem + company culture + project demands + production issue I am faced with today?"

Face it, you're breaking new ground every day. And just as soon as you figure stuff out, they change everything. If you have a good mentor at work, odds are you won't be working together for very long.

Maybe the LinkedIn algorithm has figured out how to pair you with a fairy-godmother of a mentor (they have?a feature like that) but I recommend you take matters into your own hands.

• STAY IN TOUCH! Overcome your lack of social EQ and use the power of LinkedIn to stay in touch with people that resonate with you.
• How? Well, when you think a person has something to offer you (career advice, emotional support, technical insight) don't let them walk away from you / leave the webinar before you have found them on LinkedIn. Then CONNECT with them (screw that "follow" nonsense), drop them a hello message; something like?"Hi there, I met you at the ... Event. What did you think about...?" and then make a point of keeping up with them over the years. This strategy has paid me immeasurable dividends, see my Guide book about that https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/knowwhatskills_leverage-linkedin-worksheet-activity-7161099234279075840-XGBd. You could even just straight out ask them to mentor you through your career.?
• Another solid bit of advice is actually found in ISO\IEC27001:2022 (weird, I know) : Annex A Control 5.6 Contact with special interest groups: "The organization shall establish and maintain contact with special interest groups or other specialist security forums and professional associations". (Even better, you can use "international best practice" as your motivation for the budget and time allocation!)
• Another option is to PAY someone to be your career coach. Yes, pay money, invest in your career. This is especially important if you are a senior executive or you have reached a ceiling in your current role. The trick is to find a coach who specialises in / appreciates IT careers (I can help you with that by the way, get in touch).

Remember, It's not what you know, but who knows you!

4. Set Realistic Goals

>> Break down larger goals into smaller, achievable tasks. Celebrate progress and milestones along the way to boost confidence and motivation.

Ummm, "realistic goals" is not compatible with an IT career... Scratch that one.

Definitely celebrate progress! Preferably with your team mates who are bleeding in the trenches with you. And make sure to highlight to your manager every bit of progress you have ever achieved. You will need to write them down though, you will forget them by next week.

One thing I did learn the hard way... learn to say "no" to unrealistic demands (i.e. other people's goals for you). Practice saying these phrases in front of the mirror.

• No, I cannot take on another project (without the team of people you promised me three years ago), but thanks for thinking of me.
• No, I cannot be available on Sunday and miss my mother's 60th birthday party / my anniversary weekend away / my daughter's first steps.
• No, I cannot come into work today because I pulled an all-nighter last night, and I need to sleep today, surprising I know.
• No, I cannot answer emails, Whatsapps, phone calls or attend meetings next week, because I am taking the 3-year's worth of annual leave that HR says I will forfeit if I don't take it this month, and frankly, I need the time away from all of you.
• No, I cannot push that change to production without an approved change request, even though you are the Director of The-Most-Important-Function-In-The-Business and you are demanding it in a bully-ing kind of way.
• No, I cannot accept responsibility for the success of this project while you actively undermine every decision I make.

?Does that sound realistic to you? If not, see point #2 above

5. Continuous Learning

>> Embrace a growth mindset and view challenges as opportunities for learning and development. Stay updated with industry trends and technologies through training, workshops, or online courses.

Oh please... This may be the actual reason for imposter syndrome in IT! eye-roll

In my case, I didn't want to remain a "techie" forever, so I decided to not focus purely on technical skills development and chasing certificates.? I took a few leaps of faith to try out new types of roles, like process improvement consulting, then made a conscious effort to figure out what I really want to do (every day at work) when I grow up. I also decided what I do NOT want to do, mainly project management and operational support roles, but that's just me, some people love that stuff.

• Getting the right "competency" and "soft skills" training needed to advance your career takes some mindfulness and soul searching, job listings and certificate exams are not going to help you with that, if anything they just distract you and make your career grow like a mushroom (always in the dark and feeding on s...).

To help you do that, you can leverage the "7-Levels of Responsibility" of the SFIA Framework to help you unpack exactly what those skills and competencies are.

To find out what our levels of responsibility are, here's the self-assessment I have made freely available to you: https://www.dhirubhai.net/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7172972012112363521

For more info on the SFIA Levels of Responsibility, visit, https://sfia-online.org/en/sfia-9/responsibilities

What's even better is they have broken down those 7 levels into each and every digital skill known to IT. Check it out, it's a thing of beauty!

6. Practice Self-Compassion

>> Be kind to yourself and recognize that nobody is perfect. Embrace failures as learning experiences and treat yourself with the same empathy and understanding you would offer to others.

... and pray that your "failure" doesn't lead to a privacy data breach or a few million in lost earnings for every 15 minutes that your "failure" remains in place as an outage.

• Maybe better advice is to be kind to others. Let's maintain a culture of "it could've happened to anyone" attitude. One upmanship and gossiping about your colleagues will not ultimately help your own imposture syndrome when it's your turn.

In closing?

>> By implementing these strategies and cultivating a supportive environment, IT professionals can gradually overcome Imposter Syndrome and thrive in their careers with confidence and resilience. (I love the Intro / Info / Conclusion format that ChatGPT uses, don't you?)

A "supportive environment" sounds nice. Your mom doesn't understand your job for sure, but it doesn't help that your significant other, your close family and friends, your Human Resources manager, and sometimes even your boss and team mates, have absolutely no idea what you actually do every day. It can be hard to find a supportive environment outside of your immediate team at work...if you work in a team.

"Isolation" is, sadly, very common in tech jobs.

Fixing that probably needs another article, ... Actually, I am trying to address that issue, talk to me if you what to hear what I'm up to, and follow my showcase page: https://www.dhirubhai.net/showcase/knowwhatskills/

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