Have you ever felt like a fraud and the whole world is going to find out that you’re really not as competent as other people think? Do you feel like your success is because of luck or timing but not your own skills? Then you are not alone! This concept is well known and is called the Impostor Syndrome. This talk covers how the Impostor Syndrome affects competent people and Berglind shares her experience of suffering from it when she still felt like a fake after launching an app which 18 million people used worldwide. She’ll also share pieces of advice on how to overcome it and talk about how agile processes and a healthy work culture can help support people with the syndrome.

2. Feeling like a fake
- The Impostor Syndrome
Berglind Ósk Bergsdóttir
November 14 2017
Agile Testing Days

4. What is the Impostor
Syndrome?
Feeling like a fake

5. Feeling like a fakeWhat is the Impostor Syndrome?

6. Feeling like a fakeWhat is the Impostor Syndrome?
• Perfectionism
• Unrealistic expectations
• Self-doubt
• Dismissal of compliments
• Afraid of success

7. Feeling like a fakeWhat is the Impostor Syndrome?
• Stress
• Anxiety
• Overworking
• Burnout
• Depression

8. Reasons
Feeling like a fakeWhat is the Impostor Syndrome?

9. Feeling like a fakeReasons
• Being in a minority
• Mixed signals in upbringing
• Being a student
• Working in a creative field
• Organizational culture

12. How to overcome it?
Feeling like a fake

14. How to overcome it? Feeling like a fake
Recognise your success

15. How to overcome it? Feeling like a fake
Recognise your strengths
(and weaknesses)

16. How to overcome it? Feeling like a fake
Be authentic

17. How to overcome it? Feeling like a fake
Ask for help

18. How to overcome it? Feeling like a fake
Break the downward
spiral

20. Organizational culture
Feeling like a fake

21. Organizational culture Feeling like a fake
Agile++

22. Organizational culture Feeling like a fake
Pairing

23. Organizational culture Feeling like a fake
Feedback

24. Organizational culture Feeling like a fake
Working agreement

25. Feeling like a fake
• Practice open and constructive communication
• Ask for help and work in teams, especially in difficult situations
• Assume the best in people.
• Engage when present.
• Listen more than we speak.
• We are biased toward action.
Organizational culture Kolibri working agreement

26. Feeling like a fake
• Practice open and constructive communication
• Ask for help and work in teams, especially in difficult situations
• Assume the best in people.
• Engage when present.
• Listen more than we speak.
• We are biased toward action.
Organizational culture Kolibri working agreement

27. Feeling like a fake
• No feigning surprise
• No “well-actually”'s
• No back-seat driving
• No subtle -isms
Organizational culture Recurse Social Rules

29. Feeling like a fake
Conclusion

32. Thanks!
Berglind Ósk Bergsdóttir
@berglind0sk
https://berglindosk.is
berglind@kolibri.is