Weird how imposter syndrome is such a big thing in our industry ... ever heard about a plumber or a construction worker (or a doctor or a nurse) suffering from this? Even CEOs of big companies or the hotshots in the corporate boardrooms, who make big mistakes while earning even bigger salaries, don't suffer from it (while maybe they should, but that's never gonna happen, their egos are too big).
I don't know what it is, maybe it's the level of abstraction of this craft (we don't make "physical" things), maybe we're too modest or too nice and our egos aren't big enough, maybe it's because of the endless technology churn and the fact that what you learn today seems outdated tomorrow? Another contributing factor is that, in IT or development, for any given task there are always a dozen different ways to do it and nobody agrees on what's the "right" way.
I think a big thing is also the fact that many devs are self-educated and there is no requirement for a formal education, leading to the feeling of "anyone could do this, so it's like a glorified hobby", I think that's an important factor.
But mainly this is psychological - it's a mindset. Even though I'm acutely aware that, for every single thing that I know, there are 999 things that I don't know - most of this is impossible to control, so as long as I can achieve the goals that I have in mind I'll gladly accept my limitations or inadequacies. It doesn't really bother me too much, as long as I can do what I set out to do.
I think part of the reason it's such a big issue in tech could be that we have to look up so many things every day. We always need help with something, and I'm not sure if that's the same with other industries. Because we ask for so much help, we see all these other amazing developers all the time and we only see the side of that can help us.
I also think tech is so glorified and we feel like we need to be building million dollar software all the time. And we constantly see all these people who do. Tech people are seen as logical coders, but also as creative problem solvers, unlike builders who tend to follow strict blueprints.
It could also be the abstraction like you said. Most of the time, our output isn't something we can physically show people. Maybe that's why people love to go into web development. If I set up a database and an API, it took SO MUCH WORK, but it's not something I can show off to anyone who isn't in tech.
Yeah something like that :-) like I said, a plumber or a carpenter know their skill and they're sure about it, however it seems we are rarely completely sure of anything, insights change all the time, etc
That's a good point. Although it has also created a community that welcomes asking others for help and input, and usually without judgement, even if it seems like a pretty basic question coming from someone with experience. See: StackOverflow. You'd think that would be a self-resolving dichotomy.
You've also made me realize that this is also why people in tech are often unafraid to tackle other projects outside tech that they have no experience with. We're used to being able to look up how to do something or ask someone. This is bleeding over into the general population now, of course, but it still seems most prevalent with tech workers. My father was always the same way -- before the Internet was much of a thing -- but back then it was much more uncommon to be a DIYer.
Thanks for writing this article. I am a relative newbie to coding, but have jumped with both feet into the deep end. I have almost finished my first app. Honestly I am rather nervous about just showing it to close family and friends first. I mean I was never a computer guy growing up and because of that and that I am now writing code....I totally feel like an imposter. It is so very reassuring that even the most seasoned veterans can feel this way. Again, thanks so much for writing this article. It has given me that little bit extra confidence that if the app works, does what it is supposed to do. Then I am not an imposter but a programmer.
Yeah to echo Cat's point, I think CEOs may well suffer from it (I've known those that do) - but they have fewer things that they are "supposed to know" and also can still project success through "faking confidence" if it's temporarily lacking.
Right, yes CEOs are leaders, they're more like politicians than like craftsmen, exuding confidence is their trade. Apples and oranges comparison for sure ;)
They are also, almost by necessity, almost always sociopaths. If they felt like an impostor, they'd almost certainly never admit it. In fact, they might be an impostor (of sorts). Fake it til you make it, and if you don't, keep faking it is pretty much standard behavior. They also don't relate to other people the same way a "normal" person might.
Note that by saying they are sociopaths, I'm not saying they are bad people. They're just different. But it's almost universally true due the the MacLeod Hierarchy. And since that really applies to any bureaucracy, your comparison to politicians is perfectly accurate.
I think a big thing is also the fact that many devs are self-educated and there is no requirement for formal education, leading to the feeling of "anyone could do this, so it's like a glorified hobby", I think that's an essential factor.
Definitely, as I mentioned in another comment, this has been the primary source of impostor syndrome in my case.
Also comparing to the wrong people, if you compare yourself to others, that is.
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Weird how imposter syndrome is such a big thing in our industry ... ever heard about a plumber or a construction worker (or a doctor or a nurse) suffering from this? Even CEOs of big companies or the hotshots in the corporate boardrooms, who make big mistakes while earning even bigger salaries, don't suffer from it (while maybe they should, but that's never gonna happen, their egos are too big).
I don't know what it is, maybe it's the level of abstraction of this craft (we don't make "physical" things), maybe we're too modest or too nice and our egos aren't big enough, maybe it's because of the endless technology churn and the fact that what you learn today seems outdated tomorrow? Another contributing factor is that, in IT or development, for any given task there are always a dozen different ways to do it and nobody agrees on what's the "right" way.
I think a big thing is also the fact that many devs are self-educated and there is no requirement for a formal education, leading to the feeling of "anyone could do this, so it's like a glorified hobby", I think that's an important factor.
But mainly this is psychological - it's a mindset. Even though I'm acutely aware that, for every single thing that I know, there are 999 things that I don't know - most of this is impossible to control, so as long as I can achieve the goals that I have in mind I'll gladly accept my limitations or inadequacies. It doesn't really bother me too much, as long as I can do what I set out to do.
I think part of the reason it's such a big issue in tech could be that we have to look up so many things every day. We always need help with something, and I'm not sure if that's the same with other industries. Because we ask for so much help, we see all these other amazing developers all the time and we only see the side of that can help us.
I also think tech is so glorified and we feel like we need to be building million dollar software all the time. And we constantly see all these people who do. Tech people are seen as logical coders, but also as creative problem solvers, unlike builders who tend to follow strict blueprints.
It could also be the abstraction like you said. Most of the time, our output isn't something we can physically show people. Maybe that's why people love to go into web development. If I set up a database and an API, it took SO MUCH WORK, but it's not something I can show off to anyone who isn't in tech.
Yeah something like that :-) like I said, a plumber or a carpenter know their skill and they're sure about it, however it seems we are rarely completely sure of anything, insights change all the time, etc
That's a good point. Although it has also created a community that welcomes asking others for help and input, and usually without judgement, even if it seems like a pretty basic question coming from someone with experience. See: StackOverflow. You'd think that would be a self-resolving dichotomy.
You've also made me realize that this is also why people in tech are often unafraid to tackle other projects outside tech that they have no experience with. We're used to being able to look up how to do something or ask someone. This is bleeding over into the general population now, of course, but it still seems most prevalent with tech workers. My father was always the same way -- before the Internet was much of a thing -- but back then it was much more uncommon to be a DIYer.
Thanks for writing this article. I am a relative newbie to coding, but have jumped with both feet into the deep end. I have almost finished my first app. Honestly I am rather nervous about just showing it to close family and friends first. I mean I was never a computer guy growing up and because of that and that I am now writing code....I totally feel like an imposter. It is so very reassuring that even the most seasoned veterans can feel this way. Again, thanks so much for writing this article. It has given me that little bit extra confidence that if the app works, does what it is supposed to do. Then I am not an imposter but a programmer.
Yeah to echo Cat's point, I think CEOs may well suffer from it (I've known those that do) - but they have fewer things that they are "supposed to know" and also can still project success through "faking confidence" if it's temporarily lacking.
Right, yes CEOs are leaders, they're more like politicians than like craftsmen, exuding confidence is their trade. Apples and oranges comparison for sure ;)
They are also, almost by necessity, almost always sociopaths. If they felt like an impostor, they'd almost certainly never admit it. In fact, they might be an impostor (of sorts). Fake it til you make it, and if you don't, keep faking it is pretty much standard behavior. They also don't relate to other people the same way a "normal" person might.
Note that by saying they are sociopaths, I'm not saying they are bad people. They're just different. But it's almost universally true due the the MacLeod Hierarchy. And since that really applies to any bureaucracy, your comparison to politicians is perfectly accurate.
Definitely, as I mentioned in another comment, this has been the primary source of impostor syndrome in my case.
Also comparing to the wrong people, if you compare yourself to others, that is.