Impostor syndrome can be a challenge for many professionals. Impostor syndrome is the feeling that you don’t belong or you’re not qualified to be in a particular space despite your demonstrated ability. You feel like a fraud even though you have various professional accomplishments. Impostor syndrome is shown to be more prevalent amongst underrepresented groups, such as women and people of color in tech.
So why is imposter syndrome more widespread amongst these groups? According to a clinical psychologist, we’re more likely to experience imposter syndrome if we don't see many examples of people succeeding in our field who look like us or share our background. Despite largely publicized efforts to increase diversity, Tech is still largely homogeneous. Statistics show 68% of tech industry employees in the U.S. are Caucasian while only 7% are Black. Furthermore, only 26% of the computing workforce are women, with Black women accounting for 3% of this workforce.
Additionally, research points to unconscious bias and prejudicial attitudes in the workplace and as being contributing factors to Imposter Syndrome. According to an Equality in Tech report, 57% of Black technologist respondents said racial inequality occurs frequently or very frequently in the tech industry. Furthermore, the report shows nearly six in 10 technologists who identify as women believe gender inequality occurs in the tech industry on a frequent or very frequent basis, nearly double the rate of technologists who identify as men (32%).
Combatting Impostor Syndrome
So how can we overcome these feelings of fraudulence even when we're undoubtedly qualified?
Establish a support system. Develop a network of allies and professionals who share your background within the tech industry. Having people who understand your challenges and can provide encouragement when you're not feeling the upmost confidence is invaluable.
Make an inventory of your achievements. Take a step back and think about everything you've accomplished professionally. Write a list of things like projects you've completed, certifications you've attained, the different roles you've held and anything else you're proud of. If at any point you're unsure of yourself, take a look at that list to remind you that you are more than enough.
Take care of your mental health. Ensure you address any underlying psychological or emotional issues that may be contributing to your imposter syndrome. Reaching out to a mental health professional can be helpful for developing healthy strategies and mechanisms for coping with these issues.
Become a Mentor. Many times, helping and providing guidance for others can reinforce how much we have to offer the world. It gives you an opportunity to see how your knowledge and actions can positively affect people.
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