1. I’m not good enough to discuss Imposter Syndrome
How to Get out of your own way in the Industry
Rig Moroi, M.A.Ed.
ShellCon 2019

2. So have you ever…
Stood in a conversation circle at a convention, and wonder why exactly all these awesome nerds weren’t telling you to fuck off?
Brushed off a professional compliment with “Oh, well, it’s just a hobby…”
Insisted that you weren’t really as clever as all that, just got lucky?

3. What is Imposter Syndrome?
high achievers - unable to internalize and accept their success; believe:
accomplishments - “luck” rather than ability
others will eventually unmask them as a fraud
everyone else “gets” what’s going on
 "There's a sense of being thrown into the deep end of the pool and needing to learn to swim… But I wasn't just questioning whether I could survive. In a fundamental way, I was asking, ‘Am I a swimmer?'"

4. Clance and Imes, 1978 – “imposter phenomenon” in high-achieving women
Fun Facts
Clance and Imes, 1978 – “imposter phenomenon” in high-achieving women
People of all genders experience it; higher prevalence in women
International Journal of Behavioral Science, 2011 – ~70% of people experience it
Blind survey, 2018 – 58% of people in Tech experience imposter syndrome
Well, let’s take a look

5. Which companies have which kind of corporate cultural reputations?

6. leadership Contributing factors
Poor communication
Punitive
Promotes divisions/cliques/gossip
Bad faith
Micromanaging/Interfering/Disrupting workflow
Unrealistic goals/timelines/standards
No oversight of middle management
Poor communication – as much in writing as possible, coherently presented

7. What ISN’T Imposter Syndrome?
Snyder's (1972, 1974) construct of self-monitoring
Being an actual imposter
Dunning-Kruger effect
Snyder's (1972, 1974) construct of self-monitoring - constantly checking and adjusting behavior and appearance based on perceived social cues

8. Why is Imposter Syndrome?
Pressure to achieve (external/internal)
3 basic social drives
Uncommunicative families (Busotti, 1990)
High drive to seek external validation
“False Self”
“a view of intelligence as a fixed entity rather than as a malleable quality.” (Langford, 1990)
3 basic social drives:
To be liked
To be seen as competent
To be seen as important
“False Self” – grandiose, obsequious, withdrawn, etc.
trying to live as two different people  additional psychological stress/anxiety

9. Social and direct messages about demographic- appropriate subjects
Studies on Gender
Social and direct messages about demographic- appropriate subjects
E.g. By age of three, children internalize
“girls shouldn’t play with Lego”
“boys shouldn’t play house”
Neurodiversity (Autism spectrum, ADHD, other PDD’s)
Social and direct messages about demographic-appropriate subjects
By age of three, children internalize “girls shouldn’t play with Lego”, and that “boys shouldn’t play house”
If a girl does play with Legos, she’s less likely to be praised for her achievements
If a boy does play house, he’s more likely to be scolded or corrected
Derman-Sparks, Louise.Edwards, Julie Olsen. (2010) Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves /Washington, DC : National Association for the Education of Young Children.

10. Gender Studies: Results
Emotional conflicts
Cognitive conflicts
Math
Self-image
Self-worth
Result:
Men believe that internalizing emotional or cognitive conflict is manly, and women believe that numbers should be hard for them
Men eat themselves up over perceived deficits because can’t/won’t check in; women internalize the idea they somehow can’t do things they clearly do quite well

11. Other demographics
Introversion (Lawler, 1984; Holmes et al., in press; Prince, 1989)
Trait Anxiety (Topping, 1983)
Neurodiversity
Learning disorders (diagnosed or no)
Racial minorities
LGBTQ
Young; elderly

12. Traditional measures of comparison don’t really work
in the Tech Industry
Traditional measures of comparison don’t really work
More uncertainty about valuation in informal context
Leadership, team/work culture matter
Picture: Different types of skills make a team
Lack of formal requirements 
What do you value in others?
What do others value in you?
Can a self-educated nerd hang with academic degrees?

13. In The Tech Industry (Con’t)
Sexual demographic messaging more complex than in most industries
E.g. Push for girls in STEAM vs difficulty landing interviews/jobs
Younger nerds feel like older nerds know something they don’t about the industry

14. Consequences - Personal
Causes stress, anxiety, depression, etc.
Keeps people from asking real questions to improve
Keeps people feeling isolated from peers
Causes stress, anxiety, depression, etc.
“Fake it ‘til you make it” is a tool, not a lifestyle
Feels as though always “catching up” or “missing something” others seem to “get”

15. Consequences - professional
Creates rifts between people suffering similar issues
Keeps people from stepping up or making suggestions in a meaningful way
Inhibits teamwork, project communication, etc
Second-guess instincts, cause issue/error

16. Better communicators make better headway
You’re Good Enough
You are good enough
Own your shit
Your toolkit is unique and needed
Ask questions
Better communicators make better headway
Ask questions
If you’re missing something, you’ve still caught something other people have missed

17. How to Help Yourself Write down your strengths/achievements
Find a mentor
Voice your concerns to therapist or friends regularly
Make a point to ask follow-up questions
Ask friends for validation
Insert self into conversations
Communication/socialization classes
Write down your strengths for own reference
Find a mentor  approach people you professionally respect
Voice your concerns to therapist or friends regularly
Outside perspective helps
Ultimately cannot rely entirely on external validation
Make a point to ask follow-up questions
Make lists of your achievements
Ask friends for validation
Insert self into conversations; socialization classes

18. BELIEVE YOURSELF, YOUR EMPLOYERS, CO- WORKERS, FRIENDS
Most Importantly…
BELIEVE YOURSELF, YOUR EMPLOYERS, CO- WORKERS, FRIENDS
BELIEVE a proportion of your cohort are feeling something similar
BELIEVE YOURSELF, YOUR EMPLOYERS, CO-WORKERS, FRIENDS
Nerds don’t enable
You’re where you are because you’ve earned your place
Luck/circumstance only help get you there, you get and keep you there
BELIEVE a proportion of your cohort are feeling something similar

19. How to Help Others Speak openly about insecurities
Encourage others to talk over emotional concerns
Share strategies
REACH BACK. Become a mentor, offer to mentor n00bs
Answer questions
Validate freely
Raise children to understand fluid intelligence/multiple intelligences

20. Conclusion
It’s normal to have imposter syndrome, especially in tech
Own your shit
Support others in their shit ownage
Create the work culture you want to see in the world