Unlocking Potential: Is Imposter Syndrome Holding You Back?

Overcoming this psychological pattern can help you unlock greater confidence and openness to opportunities, fostering personal growth and professional advancement

The info dev profession teems with enterprising, engaging, and experienced people, and over the years, I've had the privilege of meeting many of them. Our meetings occur in various settings—online, at local meet-ups, and at conferences such as the LavaCon Content Strategy Conference, the Society for Technical Communication Summit, tcWorld, and TCUK. It’s not exaggerating to say that my knowledge about our discipline comes almost entirely from others' willingness to share their learning experiences with me. I can identify numerous insights and revelations that directly stemmed from my interactions with the folks I’ve met along the way. At the 2024, ConVEx Conference, I noticed a perplexing trend: despite a wealth knowledge and experience, some of the most impressive folks I met were hesitant to share their insights beyond casual conversations.

The idea of leading a webinar or presenting at a conference seemed to them as daunting as trying to craft sophisticated multichannel content experiences using only an Etch-a-Sketch, a bit of Markdown, and some RaspberryPi.

This reluctance seems rooted in a common yet seldom-addressed phenomenon known as Imposter Syndrome.

What is Imposter Syndrome, anyway?

Imposter Syndrome makes you believe you're not as competent as others see you. It's a nagging feeling convincing you that your success is just a fluke, and it's only a matter of time before everyone figures out you're a fraud. This syndrome affects people across all professions and achievement levels with surprising (to me) frequency.

Imposter Syndrome often affects women, especially women of color, possibly because they see fewer examples of representation to inspire them. Gender or societal stereotypes may also contribute.

Imposter Syndrome hinders a person’s willingness to share valuable insights and experiences that could benefit others. The fear of being 'exposed' (or judged for not knowing enough) discourages many from stepping into the spotlight.

This not only stifles professional growth but also limits career opportunities. After all, sharing knowledge through webinars, articles, and conference presentations is a great way to establish industry expertise, gain visibility, and increase marketability.

The reluctance of the folks experiencing the syndrome to share their knowledge with others prevents them from achieving their full potential and contributing fully to the advancement of the field.

How do you overcome Imposter Syndrome?

Like many of challenges, acknowledging it is the first step towards overcoming it.

Recognizing that feeling like an imposter is not uncommon nor a reflection of incompetence, also helps. Experts say that speaking openly about these feelings, and focusing on the value of your contributions rather than your fear of judgment can help alleviate such fears.

Confronting Imposter Syndrome head-on involves encouraging everyone to feel safe sharing and collaborating with others. We can — and should — help lift each other up, making our individual and collective fears a little less daunting.

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome is not just about personal growth; it's about enriching our discipline with diverse voices and perspectives. Let's work to empower one other to share boldly, without fear of judgment. After all, our collective wisdom is what propels our industry forward.