The National Institute of Health states that Imposter Syndrome (IS for short) is a behavioral phenomenon where people doubt their skills, and believe they are not fit for the role they are filling. This syndrome is common in people occupying high-paying jobs, such as a coder or a programmer.
Feeling lost, losing confidence and raging anxiety are all common signs of a person suffering from Imposter Syndrome. Statistics claim that 58% of tech employees suffer from this feeling and there is a dire need to deal with the Imposter Syndrome in the programming world.
Common triggers for the Imposter Syndrome
- Imposter syndrome can occur when a programmer is venturing out of his/her comfort zone and feels out of place. The programmer might feel that he did not sign up for the job he is currently working for and expresses no desire to work there.
- The programmer may see or interact with other developers and feel that his peers are smarter and way more talented than him.
- Imposter Syndrome can also be triggered when the programmer feels like he doesn’t have sufficient knowledge in the programming field, and gains an inferiority complex.
This phenomenon is not only faced by junior developers but experienced and trained professionals alike. Surveys show that even senior stack developers working professionally in multinational firms such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, and so on also suffer from this problem.
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Common effects of Imposter Syndrome
- The productivity of the developer is negatively affected. It then leads to a domino effect and ends up affecting the entire development industry along with all the coders.
- Coders suffering from Imposter Syndrome start to feel anxious at work, they can feel depressed and even end up not coming to work at all. Frequent Burnout, lack of sleep, and negligence of health are also common among people suffering from the Imposter Syndrome. Coders specifically, may tend to prioritize quantity over quality, writing haphazard codes with lots of errors as their main priority is to learn as many codes as they can and not focus on the codes they already know.
- Developers also quit their jobs after a short time as they cannot handle the workload and the pressure of deadlines which comes along with the role of a developer. This, in turn, discourages young coders and developers from entering the industry full-fledgedly.
There is a need to normalize the presence of Imposter Syndrome in the technological world. Coders and developers alike may feel that they are alone and nobody feels the same way they do but turns out it is very untrue. This phenomenon is very common and can affect anybody. Not everybody is open and voices their discomforts, so it is not a guarantee that people would essentially know what their fellow developers are going through. One should not panic and not lose hope.
There is always scope for betterment from the imposter syndrome, and the saying “Practice makes a man perfect” holds yet again. The industry may look like a tough, challenging place but every developer has their place in this industry. The programmers need to realize that they belong. It is the people who love and are curious about technology and programming languages that form the programming world and other technological spaces. Imposter Syndrome is usually triggered when the coder is trying to gain some new experience in the field.
When a coder is trying to grow and stretch out of their comfort zone, sometimes he/she needs to understand that it is okay for him/her to not know all the codes, and not be the smartest person in the room. Even if one is not that experienced in the field or doesn’t have the same level of knowledge as their peers, one should proactively work to overcome self-doubt and not undermine their skills as a coder. Embracing one’s shortcomings and understanding that to grow, one needs to build confidence in oneself and show resilience while navigating through the challenges faced by coders in the tech industry.
Solutions to the common problems faced by coders
The programming world is a complex place and everybody doesn’t need to be the ‘Einstein of their field’. People may not know everything about this complex field. As mentioned previously, the people are here because they share a common and genuine love for the programming world. Learning is supposed to be a never-ending process, always having scope to grow and flourish. The developers must realize that in this endless plethora of existing codes and programs, they cannot learn it all. Developers are humans, and there are limits to the amount of knowledge they can grasp at once.
Being ‘Okay’ with being uncomfortable –
One should not be jealous of their peers. They are similar people with similar skill sets, but some of them may end up being at a higher proficiency level than others. Instead of cribbing and being jealous, a good programmer should effectively learn from his peers and strive for betterment. Understandably, sometimes the workload can be too much, and it is tough being a programmer, but the employer should understand that workload and deadlines are a part of the job and they should not be uncomfortable with working in such conditions and always strive to better themselves.
Understanding the Job Description –
Developers must understand that there are certain job requirements that they are supposed to fulfill. If they see a long list of requirements for a job, they need not worry. It is not too difficult. Job descriptions written in an application and the actual job requirements are different. Developers need to analyze the differences and they need to figure out the basic fundamental knowledge of the programs which are required, and they should have the ability and the readiness to adapt to new programs and other technologies. Developers shouldn’t be afraid to take up jobs that feel tough for them.
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Asking Higher-ups –
The tech industry is an inclusive space. Developers should understand that it is okay for them to ask their seniors/higher-ups for help in case they require any form of help with their work. Developers must understand that to navigate through the tech industry challenges, they should if need be, ask their superiors for guidance. Superiors can also act as mentors for the developers, making sure that their juniors are comfortable and are well adjusted to the workflow.
Knowing your worth –
Stepping into the programming world is not an easy task by any means. Young developers and programmers should know how far they have come in the professional environment. This instills confidence in the developers and generates a sense of achievement. Looking back at one’s progress throughout the year acts as a self morale booster, and makes the programmer want to work harder so that he/she can better themselves.
Motivation and dedication are key factors in a person’s professional career and knowing one’s worth is a step in the right direction. The developer should know his worth and his value as a professional in the technological space. Therefore constantly boosting your morale and noting your achievements leads to positive reinforcement.
Knowing the basics –
Keeping one’s basics and foundations clear is a huge plus point as a programmer so that you can ignore the imposter syndrome. The technological world is fast-moving, with a constant influx of new codes, new languages, and new technologies. If a developer keeps himself open to the available technologies along with keeping his basics solid, the developer is guaranteed to have a successful career. For example, knowing basic JavaScript codes can help the coder to learn and apply similar codes much faster than somebody who is inexperienced and does not possess the adequate skills to run a successful code.
Conclusion
The key to a successful career as a programmer is embracing one’s shortcomings, realizing that nobody’s perfect and that the Imposter Syndrome can happen to anybody irrespective of their position and/or their job role. A passion and love for technology in these spaces paired with the right guidance will most definitely lead to people not only growing in age but also as humans and becoming more knowledgeable in the field of programming.