Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon that most of us suffer from to one degree or another. I'm no exception and have faced this for most of my IT career, which has been around 10 years. I did not immediately understand that the impostor syndrome is one of the biggest blockers for my personal and career development. When I understood it, I gradually started, with small and large steps, fighting with a syndrome in all available ways. In my talk, I will share my story and how it helped me grow from an ordinary developer to a team leader and, eventually, the leader of the entire department.

2. ● Engineering Director (Node.js & Ruby) at
Avenga Ukraine.
● Host at "Техревені" videocast.
● Author of monthly Node.js digests on DOU.
● Mentor and career advisor for newbies as well
as experts.
● Speaker, program committee member and
organizer of various tech events.
● Technical leader with 10+ years of experience
and imposter syndrome 🤔
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
2024
Intro

3. Leadership with
imposter syndrome
under control
💡
Imposter
syndrome can be
taken
2024

4. Definition
01
Let's start with what this
syndrome is.
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
2024

5. Leadership with
imposter syndrome
if
👉
You might have
imposter imposter
syndrome
2024

6. Signs of imposter syndrome
2024
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
Work too hard
Downplay your knowledge,
abilities, or skills
Seen as a perfectionist
Seek mentors and constant
feedback
Compare to others
Lack confidence
Struggle with pressure
See the world in terms of
extremes
Tend to be a people pleaser

7. Leadership with
imposter syndrome
too?
🤔
Who has imposter
syndrome
2024

8. My story
02
Yep, even a Technical Leader with
10+ years of experience can have
an imposter syndrome.
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
2024

9. Progression
2024
Leadership with
imposter syndrome

10. My first working day
2024
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
Part-time involvement in the .NET
project, which should be additionally
combined with education activities
No commercial experience
The stress of the new step in life
Confident of being able to do it

11. Fifth year
2024
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
Despite more comprehensive
technical expertise and good
feedback from clients, teams, and
colleagues, my self-confidence fell
down

12. Dynamic
2024
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
Overtimes
Bad interpersonal
relationships
Too much learning
Anxious about
getting fired

13. Mental health
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
2024

14. Leadership with
imposter syndrome
2024
Now, you are a
team lead!

15. My feelings
2024
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
Responsibilities are
growing
Confidence falling
down

16. Leadership with
imposter syndrome
2024
Albert Einstein
“We cannot solve our problems with
the same thinking we used when we
created them.“

17. Trial & Error
03
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
2024

18. 2024
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
Leadership
● Motivation
● Mentorship
● Flexibility
● Resistance
● Strategy

19. 2024
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
Transition

20. experience
Previous
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
2024

21. 2024
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
Thinking on the next steps
● Promotion
● Tech talks
● Tech articles
● Pet projects
● etc.

22. 2024
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
First tech talk
Instead of a small meetup, I
participated in one of
Lviv's most significant
JavaScript tech events for
200+ visitors – Lviv.js 2015.

23. 2024
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
Retrospective
👎 Total disaster and
failure
My feeling
👍 Good talk and
informative insights
Audience
🤔 Maybe there is some problem with my self-esteem?

24. a feedback
Collect and analyze
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
2024

25. Leadership with
imposter syndrome
2024
Comfort zone is a trap

26. 2024
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
Step 1: Analyze current situation
● Not competent enough
● Afraid of making technical
decisions
● Risk management
● Estimates are not precise
● Cannot organize the work
properly
😕 Weaknesses
● Able to communicate with
people efficiently
● Hard-working
● Focused on the result
● Recognized by the client
and company
😎 Strengths

27. 2024
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
Step 2: Develop strengths
😕 Afraid of making
technical decisions
Feedback from team
Recommendations
from other experts
Own thoughts
Discuss with
client
Client decision
Collaborative
decision
Own decision +
presentation

28. 2024
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
Step 3: Performance evaluation
😕 It was not
good enough

29. yourself
Be HR for
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
2024

30. 2024
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
Step 3: Performance evaluation
😕 It was not
good enough
Client
👍
Teammates
👍
Company
👎
Colleagues
🤏

31. 2024
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
Result
Each time you receive positive
feedback, it will get you closer
to accepting the reality.

32. My results
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
2024

33. Summary
04
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
2024

34. 2024
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
Remember
It’s ok to ask for help or
recommendation;
Nobody knows everything;
It’s ok to say I don’t know;
It’s ok to take some time for
learning;
It’s ok to question you ideas;

35. Leadership with
imposter syndrome
sometimes
😉
It’s ok to
be imposter
2024

36. Leadership with
imposter syndrome
2024

37. Leadership with
imposter syndrome
2024

38. opportunity
Use it as
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
2024

39. Leadership with
imposter syndrome
2024

40. Thanks!
Do you have any questions?
Leadership with
imposter syndrome
2024
get in touch