Nulls, Procs, and Imposter Syndrome

Personal Stories

The hosts share their personal encounters with imposter syndrome, highlighting the importance of perseverance. Michael Outlaw emphasizes the need to communicate early when falling behind, as it helps manage expectations and reduces stress 1. Alan Underwood recalls advice from his teenage years, underscoring the value of showing up and facing challenges head-on.

The best advice I ever got... was like, dude, what's the worst that's going to happen? She gonna say no?

--- Alan Underwood

Joe Zack adds that overcoming self-doubt often involves just showing up and pushing through, even when feeling inadequate 2.

   

Gender Dynamics

The discussion shifts to the interaction between gender and imposter syndrome. Michael Outlaw reads a definition from Wikipedia, noting that imposter syndrome is particularly common among high-achieving women 3. This sparks curiosity and debate among the hosts about why this might be the case.

Despite external evidence of their competence, those exhibiting the syndrome remain convinced that they are frauds and do not deserve the success they have achieved.

--- Michael Outlaw

Joe Zack wonders if women in tech face this issue more acutely, while Alan Underwood points out that this phenomenon isn't limited to engineering 2.

   

Overcoming Strategies

Strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome are explored, with the hosts sharing practical advice. Joe Zack highlights the usefulness of anonymous platforms like Stack Overflow for asking questions without fear of judgment 4. Alan Underwood discusses the importance of setting realistic expectations and not being too hard on oneself.

It's these high standards that we've set ourselves up for that we try to achieve. And then when you don't do that, that also puts you back in that row.

--- Alan Underwood

Michael Outlaw adds that continuous learning and iteration are key to overcoming feelings of inadequacy 5.

   

Impacts

The hosts delve into how imposter syndrome impacts work productivity, mental health, and personal relationships. Michael Outlaw and Alan Underwood discuss the constant pressure in software development to keep up with new technologies, which can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy 6. Joe Zack emphasizes that simply showing up and pushing through can often lead to success.

90% success is just showing up.

--- Joe Zack

The conversation highlights that imposter syndrome is a common experience, even among highly competent professionals 2.