able of Contents
- Reasons (part 1)
- Pros and Cons (part2)
Triggers
- Outside their comfort zone; trying something new.
- Not psychologically safe and are reluctant to expose vulnerability.
- Plagued by trauma and have learned the wrong lessons from the past.
New Role
If you’re nervous about diving into something new check out my onboardee’s checklist.
Constant Change
One of the challenges of working in the software industry is the need for constant learning. There is always new languages, new platforms, new frameworks and new subject matter domains with new jargon. Even if you stick with the same technologies and the same industry, the technologies release new versions and the industry evolves as the environment changes. You are always doing things you have never done before. You are continually pushed outside of your comfort zone.
Fake It Til You Make It.
We are told it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt. This is baked straight into our school system. If we struggle then we are suppose to just work harder and bulldoze are way through.
However keeping quiet, means the you do not ask for help that you need or warn of problems that you see. You may be setting yourself up for failure as the underlying issue is not identified and fixed, therefore it is likely to worsen, leading to an eventual reckoning.
Sometimes You Aren't Safe.
Unfortunately sometimes you are not imagining it. You feel unsafe because your work environment is in fact not safe.
In which case you need to change your workplace or change your workplace. Don’t let it slide, your workplace culture is unlikely to improve by itself. A bad culture is stressful and counterproductive. Your team, your project and the company itself is more likely to fail, as problems do not get addressed, as it is unsafe to admit that they even exist.
The unfortunate habit that some people have of asking questions that they make clear only have one acceptable answer or showing no curiosity in the answer, can lead to the death of honest communication and the fostering of an unsafe environment.
Past Trauma
I was mentoring a co-worker on how to present technical changes in terms of business value. I ran into the problem that they were reluctant to raise certain matters. They had received very negative feedback on the topic in the past. I pointed out that that was a different company, different workplace culture, different manager and they had not used a strategy of emphasising business benefits.
Sometimes we overgeneralise feedback and the wrong lessons are learned. A cat that has been burnt will not sit on a hot stove again, but neither will they sit on a cold one.
The Effects of Imposter Syndrome
This is increased stress and erosion of confidence.
Productivity and learning are effected by stress in a U shaped pattern. Too little stress leads to complacency and too much leads to panic, paralysis and counterproductive behaviour.
The people who see a silver lining or benefits to impostor syndrome are talking about moving from complacency to motivating eustress. Stepping out of your comfort zone is an opportunity for growth, and can motivate change. Those who see the harmful effects of impostor syndrome are talking about moving from motivating eustress to debilitating distress.
Conclusion
When lack of confidence is warranted it can lead to avoidance of risky or dangerous behaviour. And can motivate people to ask for help.
When lack of confidence is not warranted it can lead to avoidance of opportunities and the very experiences and practices that can improve those abilities. It can motivate people to hide the fact that they need help.
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