If you’re a human being, you’ve likely felt like an impostor at one time or another. As adults, as professionals, as women and especially as women in tech. (Shout-out to Product and UX women, too.)
Women account for just 16% of senior-level technology jobs in the U.S. and only 10% of executive positions, according to the Quantifying Gender Gap study by Entelo, a company helping recruiters find under-represented job candidates.
I’ve heard variations of the impostor question over and over since I worked my way into my first leadership role. My go-to answer for women wondering how to get over impostor syndrome is, "use your voice."
One of my favorite movies, As Good As It Gets, summed it up best when, out of sheer exasperation, Greg Kinnear’s character tells Jack Nicholson’s, “The best thing you have going for you is your willingness to humiliate yourself.”
I’m certainly not suggesting that you purposely embarrass yourself in front of a room full of coworkers, but I am encouraging you to take a risk, speak up and give your opinion when it isn’t asked for.
Go ahead and ask that question you think everyone else already knows the answer to. In small conversations and big meetings I remember that quote, even more so in times when I'm riddled with self-doubt and — let’s be honest, ladies — that’s most of the time.
You may be wondering, why bother? It’s true that staying under the radar can be comforting. By doing the minimum your role requires you can still keep those paychecks rolling in. Not taking a risk can be a safe way to avoid failure. It’s also a good way to ensure nothing extraordinary happens, either.
If you’re driven to make a difference while climbing the corporate ladder, make yourself heard. Sometimes it might backfire, but I guarantee it will be beneficial more often than not.
Here's what else I’ve learned clawing my way through difficult situations. Perhaps sharing will help you avoid some of that clawing. And please share your own experiences of successes and setbacks — and questions about challenging situations — in the comments section. Or email me at [email protected]
Continue reading: https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiedelgado/2022/06/16/how-to-beat-impostor-syndrome/?sh=39ac71d23916
Women account for just 16% of senior-level technology jobs in the U.S. and only 10% of executive positions, according to the Quantifying Gender Gap study by Entelo, a company helping recruiters find under-represented job candidates.
I’ve heard variations of the impostor question over and over since I worked my way into my first leadership role. My go-to answer for women wondering how to get over impostor syndrome is, "use your voice."
One of my favorite movies, As Good As It Gets, summed it up best when, out of sheer exasperation, Greg Kinnear’s character tells Jack Nicholson’s, “The best thing you have going for you is your willingness to humiliate yourself.”
I’m certainly not suggesting that you purposely embarrass yourself in front of a room full of coworkers, but I am encouraging you to take a risk, speak up and give your opinion when it isn’t asked for.
Go ahead and ask that question you think everyone else already knows the answer to. In small conversations and big meetings I remember that quote, even more so in times when I'm riddled with self-doubt and — let’s be honest, ladies — that’s most of the time.
You may be wondering, why bother? It’s true that staying under the radar can be comforting. By doing the minimum your role requires you can still keep those paychecks rolling in. Not taking a risk can be a safe way to avoid failure. It’s also a good way to ensure nothing extraordinary happens, either.
If you’re driven to make a difference while climbing the corporate ladder, make yourself heard. Sometimes it might backfire, but I guarantee it will be beneficial more often than not.
Here's what else I’ve learned clawing my way through difficult situations. Perhaps sharing will help you avoid some of that clawing. And please share your own experiences of successes and setbacks — and questions about challenging situations — in the comments section. Or email me at [email protected]
Continue reading: https://www.forbes.com/sites/katiedelgado/2022/06/16/how-to-beat-impostor-syndrome/?sh=39ac71d23916