Can Imposter Syndrome Help Software Developers Grow?

The feeling that you don't know what others think you do can cause a lot of stress and anxiety.
We all put up with this feeling when we're new, because others expect that we don't know what we're doing.
But after a few years in software development, we can forget that feeling.
When asked to do work that requires us to grow, it's critical that we get comfortable with this feeling.
There are a few reasons why software professionals tend to be especially susceptible to this.
One is that other egotistical, narcissistic developers can make fun of us.
But this says more about THEM than us.
Another is that we worry that we'll be "found out" by management for needing to learn something.
But emotionally intelligent managers and leaders see through the false wall of lies that some developers can put up when they try to appear infallible.
In this video, I encourage you to look at imposter syndrome as a healthy sign that you need to grow.
If you can be honest, detach from what others think, and learn to reset expectations with others - you don't need a reason to worry that you're an imposter.
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[@HealthyDev]

Imposter syndrome is just a sign we need to reset expectations, grow, or cut loose from other’s expectations. How do you deal with it?

[@programthis3805]

As a software dev this youtube channel is gold

[@feeling4929]

They should have taught this in University as a mandatory course IMO!

[@roryw89]

You are a software developer's therapist haha. I just started my second job as a dev and am having some imposter syndrome. Thanks for the video!

[@dvandamme00]

a student knows they know nothing. a junior thinks they do. a mid level realises they were wrong. a senior is ok (more or less) with that and is looking to learn more. i cracked 20 years of production jobs this year, and 12 of that as some kind of tech developer. In my newest job, 50% of what Im doing is totally new to me and im reading how-to and starter docs every day

[@tommyck7185]

Listen to this while coding , I've been working as a web developer for a year now fresh out of college and I was hit really hard on how much people expected me to know about languages , platforms , frameworks , tools. It feels like finish up swimming class and then get kicked into vast open sea filled with sharks.

[@rihasanatrofolo2472]

How's the dev life now, a year later?

[@tommyck7185]

@@rihasanatrofolo2472 More content with everything I guess, I can see clearer what direction I need to go.

[@ankurgaikwad7252]

When someone is being critical of me at work, I use *pen & paper* to note down what they talk about. This helps me cure my anxiety/divert emotional energy, be objective and not let emotions spoil the moment.

[@cjp0605]

Software Developer is my second career, and as someone that does not have a formal CS education that works on a team in with people half my age that have Masters degrees (in the exact same role), I've struggled with Imposter Syndrome (IS) pretty much continuously and think about it a lot. You pretty much hit the nail on the head with this video, but there are couple of other angles to think about. I think the first hurdle for people with IS is getting past the belief that for them it's not a "syndrome". Like the saying "it's not paranoia if they're really after you", they think they *really* don't belong. They don't really believe others (even their manager) that complement them or praise their work, and the natural instinct is to "hide" and try to keep anyone from discovering the "truth", which is not healthy for anyone. And while the truth is that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, I think that people that struggle with IS are prone to judge themselves too harshly for their weaknesses, and not give themselves enough credit for their strengths (if they recognize them at all). I have to consciously work to give myself credit for what I bring to the team, and not beat myself up too badly for what I don't do as well as my peers. It's a fine line, because you don't want to deny that you have weaknesses, but just be realistic about yourself and try not to judge yourself more harshly than you judge others. Being uncomfortable in your role and unsatisfied with your own performance is actually conducive to growth if handled constructively, which I think is your central point, so you don't want to lose that completely.

[@cthree87]

I've been writing software for 40 years and I'm at the top of my field and I just started a new job. My IS is raging. Others think we know so much. If we are any good at writing software we know how little we know. Your content is gold.

[@ScottKFraley]

I hear you brother! I've been at this for ~30 years and am just now getting into "Cloud-Scale/Internet-Scale" work and it's scaring the crap out of me! I'm worried that I don't learn stuff as easily as I did back in the day.

[@vivael18]

21:27 "We don't grow by getting promoted and rewarded more by what were already know. We grow by learning things we don't know".

[@brentylol]

Every dev has bad days, and on bad days, these videos are food for the soul :). Thank you so much for making these and I hope you never stop making them :)

[@allessandro989]

That's just one of the best videos I've ever seen.

[@ianedmonds9191]

I'm redundant in a week after 19 years... Your channel will be a fave of mine. Luv and Peace.

[@LowestofheDead]

Personally, my Imposter Syndrome/anxiety isn't about needing to know everything, it's about needing to know enough. And the more anxious you are, the more you exaggerate how little you know or how great the 'enough' has to be.

[@Meritumas]

The most helpful channel for devs on youtube. Thank you Jayme for recording your words of wisdom!

[@HealthyDev]

Thanks for watching! It helps me feel better to know some of this stuff might help people avoid some of the mistakes I’ve made.

[@gummydogs]

Thanks for the great advice. I've watched a few other videos and subscribed. Since you said you were a "KZbin noob" I might offer some youtube advice: shorter videos (5-15 mins) get more views, since I guess that's our attention span in the internet age. Even I started to glaze out at around 20 mins (: still love the content I've seen so far though. I'll be listening to these like podcasts in my car.

[@HealthyDev]

gummydogs thanks for the advice. I do need to find a way to make the content more compact. Appreciate it! You can also find me on SoundCloud at soundcloud.com/jayme-edwards-media. Thanks for your sub, and support.

[@TylerKehne]

Some of the best content on KZbin is from this channel. Love your advice.

[@HealthyDev]

Thanks Tyler. 👍

[@darthkreggles3798]

Probably one of your best videos.

[@danielt63]

So true. After ten years, I switch tech stacks. Twelve years later, I switched again. Now I'm switching again. Every switch is frustrating. Suddenly something that would have taken me 10 minutes ends up taking all day and I have to remember that I'm new all over again.

[@Martin4Mary4Ever]

I've had the imposter syndrome even when I was able to make full products in a framework in just a day after working with a codebase for a year. At that point I was wondering if I could have made things clearer for the guy who would take my position after me. I feel a lot better about that now and hope to turn that kind of distress into a good stress later on

[@Danielcover10]

Where are you Jayme?.Come back we need you man!

[@mtwata]

Finally a video on this topic that actually makes sense 👏

[@stephan3199]

What a great video. Thanks a lot

[@adrian-php]

this is so deep. thank u for the motivation

[@HealthyDev]

Happy to help!

[@adrian-php]

@@HealthyDev Uf I would never have thought you would reply. Hope you and your family is doing good. Don't want to pressure but will you come back anytime soon? I have watched your last video and can understand the struggle u went through. I'm happy you went family first with a break and did not make 100 drama videos about your current situation. I also disagree with some points you made in your last video. You talked about videos you were ashamed of where you come across like you knew everything. I don't think this is the case because you always had the arguments to support your thoughts.

[@limitless0032]

Thanks for your advice.

[@HealthyDev]

You’re very welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@jhonhernandez9210]

When you are new, people treat you like a stupid When you can do the job you dont know where to go Some people have an inflated perspective of them People that know much are humble Some feel that should lie saying that know everything Be honest about what you dont know "I dont know, but I will find out" Create a solid relationship with customers

[@fmondello]

You should pay attention to where you put your guitar. If any of the doors is open, it will end up on the floor.

[@HealthyDev]

Haha! Thank you fmondello! I put a sandbag next to it on both sides to prevent this - worries me too!!! Cheers :)

[@stanleyaloh7977]

This video is gold.

[@ab5441]

I had a coworker who would lie to avoid being outside his comfort zone. Some examples being js frameworks are unstable so we should never use them and manufacturing requirements because they didn't understand webhooks so we need our own in house service. Don't be like that guy....

[@Hato1992]

I think every developer need to have that phase "I know everything". But it should end at some point. It's not a bad thing to not know something, it's rather normal. Now I just say truth. I feel much better. And if they fire me, I done what I possibly could and didn't lie about my work, if it's not enough, farewell then.

[@Bizmonger]

I've been guilty of this. Please note that as a black man in America, I feel pressured to dominate my space and destroy subconscious superiority complexes of my peers. I feel I have to know more and demonstrate more than "mainstream" just to "earn" the same opportunities that I feel 'mainstream" inherits by default. In conclusion, I try to embrace stoicism to hopefully reach the finishline through each calculated step.

[@HealthyDev]

Scott, it shows maturity just in reflecting on this and being willing to consider your path. I certainly don't have to deal with the race challenges you do - and I think anyone would understand your struggle (as best as they can, not being in your situation)! As I shared in the video, these are things I have learned by NOT doing them - we're all learning! The industry needs your expertise and perspective, regardless of what changes you go through to get there.

[@brianlaudrupchannel]

Why mention race?

[@Bizmonger]

@@brianlaudrupchannel Because people maintain stereotypes that results in their decision making

[@letcodeitnow]

Great content, we need more devs like you in the eco-system and not some bunch of egomaniacs 🤪

[@HealthyDev]

Thank you Azeez there are many of us out there as I’m sure you know - we just don’t always shout the loudest...

[@nbo304]

I am a walking imposter syndrome. Thank you

[@gsit80]

I need help with dating. Bah...

[@Davsan1]

8

[@PaulSebastianM]

So many "you know"s in this video. 😂