Drop-Kick Imposter Syndrome

CHRIS REYNOLDSchrisreynolds.io

@jazzs3quence

hello@chrisreynolds.io

Dropping the Imposter

Drop-Kick Imposter Syndrome

Impostor syndrome is a concept

describing high-achieving individuals

who are marked by an inability

to internalize their accomplishments and

a persistent fear of being exposed as a

"fraud".

Despite external evidence of their

competence, those exhibiting 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.

Story timeMy first WordCamp

Senior EngineerWhat? Me? Senior?

That’s an age thing, right?

imposter syndrome

affects everyone

Two Neils…

Imposter Syndrome affects

everyone

“If Neil Armstrong felt like an imposter, maybe everyone did.

Maybe there weren’t any grown-ups, only people who had

worked hard and also got lucky and were slightly out of their

depth, all of us doing the best job we could, which is all we

can really hope for.” — Neil Gaiman

Thanks, Captain Obvious.

Imposter Syndrome

disproportionately affects women

imposter syndrome can’t just be

turned off

“Easy for you to say.”

You are not alone

Drop-kicking imposter syndrome

WordPress community

Open source projects

Working with a team

Get involved

Know what you’re good at

Know what you’re bad at

Celebrate your successes

Know thyself

Acceptance

Give it a name

Understand where it comes from

— it might actually be because you’re

really good at something!

Invite the demon to tea

hello@chrisreynolds.io

@jazzs3quence

chrisreynolds.io

s3q.us/imposter-syndrome

Chris Reynolds

Sources

• https://qz.com/984070/neil-gaiman-has-the-perfect-anecdote-for-anyone-with-

impostors-syndrome/

• http://www.upworthy.com/you-may-suffer-from-impostor-syndrome-lots-of-smart-

people-with-signs-of-high-achievement-do

• http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2013/11/05/imposter_effect_women_feel_li

ke_frauds_at_work_because_they_are_high_achieving.html

• https://bronsonquick.com.au/blog/2017/04/04/im-lucky-dont-suffer-impostor-

syndrome-heres/

• https://sonjaleix.com/blog/community/impostor-syndrome/

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Know_thyself

• https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/26/your-money/learning-to-deal-with-the-

impostor-syndrome.html

• https://wordpress.tv/2015/08/20/peter-wilson-dee-teal-and-gary-pendergast-im-

an-impostor-because/