Overcoming
Imposter Syndrome
Imran Afzal
UX Manager
FGH / Otto UK
@avimran
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A pattern of disconnect between perceived
performance and accomplishment
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Attribution Theory
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Attribution Theory states that humans attribute success/failure to
both internal and external factors, which then informs future responses
We often attribute our success to external factors such
as hard work - and not our own intrinsic ability
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Occam’s Razor
Our minds have evolved to trust the simpler explanation
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Imposter Syndrome
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Imposter syndrome is a psychological pattern in which
individuals have difficulties accepting their achievements,
with a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud
The impostor syndrome first described by American clinical psychologists
Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes in 1978
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Triggers
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Identifiers
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Can Imposter Syndrome
affect anyone?
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7 out of 10 people experience Imposter
syndrome at some point in their lives
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Natalie Portman - Actress
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Actress (and Harvard alum) Natalie Portman
described the self-doubt she experienced as
a Harvard student.
“I felt like there had been some mistake...”
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John Steinbeck - Author
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“I am not a writer. I’ve been fooling myself and
other people.”
He admired his characters for being “so much
stronger and purer and braver” than he was.
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Doug Collins - UX Practitioner
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Finding Balance
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How can you overcome
Imposter Syndrome?
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Find a mentor that you can talk to and share fears with
1. Find a Mentor
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Focus more on what you’re learning, than on how you’re performing
2. Focus on Learning
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3. Accomplishment
Journal
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Write down what you’ve
accomplished - and keep referring
back to it regularly
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Don’t compare yourself to others - your journey, perspective
and destination is unique
4. Don’t Compare
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5. Pause & Reflect
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Reflection will help you make
meaning of experiences and
process your feelings/thoughts
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Can you really overcome
Imposter Syndrome?
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A Constant Battle
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We’re all Imposters
No one knows how to be a proper adult,
worker, parent, designer or anything else
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“Sometimes the bravest and most important
thing you can do is just show up.”
Brené Brown
Professor/Author/Researcher