Drop-Kick Imposter Syndrome
CHRIS REYNOLDSchrisreynolds.io
@jazzs3quence
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
@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/