Have you ever had an experience where a small voice in your head prevented you from acting on an idea, stopped you from sharing your knowledge or trying something new, or maybe even made you feel like your achievements were nothing special? That voice is more common than you think! In this talk we will go over the basic steps that will help you materialize, deconstruct and take control of that voice, helping you distinguish the useful bits of information that can help you grow from the overwhelming debris and clutter. You will learn how to notice the early signs of its onset and manage the situation to your benefit. Finally, you will learn to use simple tools that will help you recognize and acknowledge your achievements and help yourself and others fight the invisible menace.

1. Inhibiting
the impostor
Ana Baotić
@abaotic
Project Manager @ Asseco SEE

4. Agenda
! What Impostor syndrome is (and isn’t)
! Classification
! Origins and triggers
! How to check if you have it
! To solve it

5. IMPOSTOR SYNDROME
- a psychological pattern in which an individual doubts their accomplishments and
has a persistent internalised fear of being exposed as a "fraud"

6. I am
not competent
enough

7. Shutterstock | Aphelleon
I have written 11 books, but each time I
think, 'Uh oh, they're going to find out now.
I've run a game on everybody, and they're
going to find me out.
- Maya Angelou
“

8. #imposter-syndrome

10. The impostor cycle

11. TASK
Panic
Anxiety
Fear
Doubt
Worry
OVER-PREPARATION PROCRASTINATION
COMPLETION
(LUCK)(EFFORT)
(ABILITY)

13. #GardenAndKittens

14. Being special/best

17. Superwoman/Superman

20. Fear of failure

22. Ability/praise

23. XKCD

24. Success-related guilt

26. Origins

27. ! No praise
! All the praise
! "You don’t deserve…"
! Labels

28. ENVIRONMENT

29. Shutterstock | Aphelleon
…faced with a hostile and discriminatory
environment, one we are unwelcome in, our
perception of our skills, our chances, and our
abilities to succeed—change and suffer.
- https://twitter.com/catehstn
“
https://cate.blog/2016/08/25/the-trouble-with-imposters/

31. Do I have it?

33. 1. Ever worried people may find out you’re not really as capable as they think you are?
2. Feel pressure to know the answer to any professional question someone might ask?
3. Is it hard for you to accept compliments about your work or accomplishments?
4. Do you secretly compare your abilities to those around you (they’re better than you)?
5. Ever feel like you were just in the right place at the right time (knew the right people)?
6. Do you ever think that if you can do it, anybody can?
7. Do you agonise over even the smallest flaws in your work?
8. Do you become defensive when you are given constructive criticism (you feel inept)?
9. When you have success, do you privately feel like you’ve fooled them again?
10. Do you ever feel like you really have no clue what you’re doing and you’re afraid
people will find out?

34. The solution

36. Name it

38. Set SMART goals

39. ! Specific (simple, sensible, significant)
! Measurable (meaningful, motivating
! Achievable (agreed, attainable)
! Relevant (reasonable, realistic and resourced, results-based)
! Time bound (time-based, time limited)

40. Find balance

42. Progress over success

44. Failure == attempt

46. Mentor others

48. SPEAK UP

50. KEEP A TRACK RECORD

53. NOT (just) YOU

54. DO IT ANYWAY

55. Thank you
Q&A