1. Overcoming Impostor Syndrome
based on The Ada Initiative workshop http://adainitiative.org CC BY-SA
Timea
Turdean
12/03/2016

2. 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
2/31

3. 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
3/31

4. 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
4/31

5. Is this you?
“OH Crap!
They are going to figure out I have absolutely no idea what
I am doing...”
5/31

6. Is this you?
“I am not sure if I deserve a raise …
my performance was not so good anyway”
6/31

7. Is this you?
“My colleague is soooo much better at that than me. ”
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8. 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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9. Even the most successful people doubt themselves and
have fears.
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10. WHY?
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11. “Did you get invited to the event just for the female quota?”
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12. “You aren't a backend programmer.”
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13. “Did you come to the event because of your boyfriend?”
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14. 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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15. 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
15/31

16. 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
16/31

17. 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
17/31

18. 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
18/31

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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
21/31

22. 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
22/31

23. 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
23/31

25. Excersises
●
20 min: “Take a compliment” exercise
●
20 min: Values exercise
●
20 min: Combating negative thoughts exercise
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26. 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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27. 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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28. Value exercise
Take your handouts and complete the exercise.
At the end each group can voluntarily report on the
results.
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29. Combating negative thoughts
Take your handouts and work on the last exercise:
“Thoughts record.“
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30. 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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31. Thank you for your attention
Timea
Turdean
12/03/2016
timea.turdean@gmail.com

32. thank you!