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Feeling like a better developer (AKA overcoming impostor syndrome)
Joss Paling
1 talk
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Feeling like a better developer (AKA overcoming impostor syndrome)

by Joss Paling

In this talk, Joss Paling discusses the concept of feeling like a better developer as opposed to merely the technical skills associated with development. The focus is on overcoming self-doubt and imposter syndrome, which can hinder personal and professional growth in the fast-paced tech industry.

Here are the key points covered throughout the talk:

  • Cognitive Bias and Self-Evaluation: Joss explains how cognitive biases cloud our self-assessment, making it difficult to accurately gauge our abilities. Even when provided with data proving our competence, many developers feel like they are exceptions to the norm.

  • The Journey of a Developer: He shares his experience of starting as a confused beginner, progressing through various stages of competence, and often relying on the Dunning-Kruger effect, where individuals may feel they are more competent than they really are due to their lack of experience.

  • Experiencing Imposter Syndrome: The speaker highlights how imposter syndrome causes doubt in one’s abilities and leads people to credit their successes to luck rather than their skills. He recounts his own struggle with these feelings and points out that many successful individuals also experience this phenomenon.

  • Prevalence of Imposter Syndrome: Joss cites studies indicating that a significant portion of people (ranging from 40% to 70%) experience imposter syndrome, particularly among high achievers, women, and minorities.

  • Six Strategies to Combat Self-Doubt:

    • Talk About It: Engaging in conversations with peers can provide relief and help normalize feelings of inadequacy.
    • Teach Others: Teaching helps recognize one's own knowledge and shifts focus from what is lacking to what is known.
    • Have Opinions: Expressing one's thoughts encourages growth and self-confidence despite the fear of judgment.
    • Value Soft Skills: Acknowledging that both technical and soft skills are critical for success can enhance self-esteem.
    • Surround Yourself with Support: Engage with people who have confidence in your capabilities to help mitigate self-doubt.
    • Work-Life Balance: Building a healthy boundary between work and personal life is essential for mental well-being and combating feelings of inadequacy.

  • Conclusion: Joss emphasizes the importance of recognizing that feelings of self-doubt are common and that addressing these feelings takes ongoing effort. He encourages the audience to embrace growth, confront their fears, and take steps toward building self-confidence as both developers and individuals. The journey may be challenging, but it promises a sense of fulfillment and happiness in the end.

00:00:01.839 Hi, I'm Joss.
00:00:03.760 This isn't a talk about actually becoming a better developer. This is a talk about feeling like a better developer.
00:00:10.240 I hope that in 20 minutes, some of you will feel like better developers and feel happier and more confident for it.
00:00:12.400 These two things—feeling better and actually being better—would ideally have a nice linear relationship. As you become a better developer, you would feel like a better developer. However, we are subject to cognitive biases, which make us terrible at evaluating ourselves.
00:00:26.080 Appealing to data rather than emotion can help, but we often convince ourselves we're an exception to the rule. We might think, 'I am the outlier in this data set.' This makes it difficult to judge our own abilities accurately.
00:00:46.159 You'll find people scattered all across this chart. For example, the IE6 core team may feel stuck at one point, while a new Vim user might be somewhere else. The path I took, which I believe is relatively common, begins at a point of confusion.
00:01:01.760 Initially, everything seems daunting, but over time things start to make sense. You build small projects and may start to feel competent. This is where the Dunning-Kruger effect comes into play—feeling more competent than you actually are simply because you don't yet know how much you don't know.
00:01:19.679 I remember during my first semester at university, I created a command-line based tourist site simulation in Java. I thought I was the next John Carmack. Very soon, however, reality hit as I realized I had a lot to learn, and descending from that peak of ignorance was a humbling experience.
00:01:41.600 I've spent nearly ten years in software development, and I've never really had what you would call a 'normal' job. From working with my dad to freelancing, and being the only developer at BBL Digital—a small agency where I'm part owner—I haven’t had a strong point of reference to judge my ability.
00:02:02.000 This lack of a point of reference has led me to constantly worry that I may be doing everything wrong without anyone to confirm or correct me. Each time I took on a more challenging position, I would fear that this would be the moment where I completely fail and everyone realizes that I’ve just been 'faking it' so far.
00:02:18.720 At the same time, I thought that everyone else was doing far more complex tasks than I was handling. This experience is known as imposter syndrome, a common phenomenon where you don't internalize your accomplishments despite external evidence of them.
00:02:54.000 When I first diagnosed myself with this, I asked my wife, Jess, if she had heard of imposter syndrome. Unfortunately, she pointed out that I was describing my own situation. It's where you doubt yourself and attribute your success to luck rather than your own capabilities, creating a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud.
00:03:15.920 As I continued my journey, I realized that many highly accomplished people are also affected by this. Even those like Sheryl Sandberg and Rand Fishkin, who are highly respected in the tech industry, have admitted to feeling like imposters.
00:03:43.040 There's no shortage of studies explaining how common this phenomenon is. Estimates vary, but some suggest that up to 70 percent of people will experience imposter syndrome at some point, and the smallest estimate is still significant at 40 percent.
00:04:06.080 Imposter syndrome, originally described in 1978 by researchers at Georgia State University, is particularly prevalent among women and minorities. It's an unfortunate consequence of societal and institutional biases.
00:04:31.040 However, it is especially common among high achievers. Those who set the bar high for themselves tend to feel inadequate when they fall short. I was shocked to discover how many well-respected figures in tech had experienced imposter syndrome; each believed they were not living up to their potential.
00:05:03.920 It's crucial to understand that if you haven't experienced imposter syndrome, chances are that some of your friends or colleagues have. The key to overcoming it is acknowledging that it exists and being open about it.
00:05:26.320 As I navigated my own self-doubt, I found real value in understanding that many people face similar feelings. I learned that sharing these experiences can help normalize the fear of inadequacy.
00:05:48.560 Over time, I endeavored to learn more about imposter syndrome and began to recognize my own patterns of thought as related to it. It's not about lacking the ability; it's about an incorrect judgment of one’s ability.
00:06:14.080 As I dove deeper into this phenomenon, I discovered six strategies that could help combat feelings of self-doubt. Each of these will likely go against your natural inclination, but they are worth trying.
00:06:39.040 Firstly, talk about it. Share your feelings with others who have experienced similar challenges. You’ll find immense relief in realizing that you're not alone in feeling this way. Reading about others' experiences can also shed light on your own feelings.
00:07:01.040 Secondly, consider teaching others. Teaching forces you to recognize the knowledge you possess and inadvertently shifts your focus from what you lack to what you know.
00:07:22.400 Thirdly, have opinions, even if you fear judgment. It's essential to back your intuition and take a stand—it provides opportunities for learning and growth.
00:07:43.040 Fourthly, don't undervalue your soft skills. Excellent technical skills are important, but attributes like clear communication and conscientiousness are just as critical to professional success.
00:08:05.200 Fifthly, surround yourself with people who believe in your capabilities, even when you don't. Working in environments where others have confidence in you can help mitigate self-doubt.
00:08:27.680 Finally, establish a healthy work-life balance. A tendency to overwork can often stem from feelings of inadequacy. Instead, find ways to separate your work from everyday life to avoid burnout.
00:09:00.880 Implementing these six strategies takes effort, but they are beneficial in reshaping your thoughts regarding self-worth and capability. It's important to develop a balanced perspective on your abilities.
00:09:28.160 If any of these experiences resonate with you, I encourage you to recognize that you are not alone in your feelings. Making a commitment to address your self-doubt is a crucial step toward overcoming it.
00:09:55.120 Remember, it's an ongoing journey of self-discipline. There will be ups and downs, but persevering through this process can lead to greater happiness both as a developer and as an individual.
00:10:23.680 I encourage you all to embrace the discomfort of growth and take actionable steps toward feeling better about yourselves. Thank you.
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