IMPOSTER SYNDROME & other scary things as a community manager
RETHINKDB
➤ The realtime, open-source database that makes it dramatically easier to build realtime apps.
➤ 7 years in the making
➤ Been stuck with me for the past 2.5 ;)
HORIZON
➤ Horizon is a realtime open-source backend for JavaScript apps.
➤ Built by the RethinkDB team and an amazing community!
➤ ~5 months in the making
➤ They’re stuck with me on this one :D
“A collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist even in face of information that indicates that the opposite is true. It is experienced internally as chronic self-doubt, and feelings of intellectual fraudulence.
-https://counseling.caltech.edu/general/InfoandResources/Impostor
A FEW FACTS…
➤ The term was coined by clinical psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes in 1978.
➤ Early research suggested it was more prominent amongst women, new research suggests equal for men and women.
➤ Common feelings of “fraud” and like one does not deserve the success she/he has achieved (key word: achieved)
➤ Not a distinct personality trait, but some are more prone than others.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
➤ Caveat: not a formal mental disorder, thus no clear consensus on treatment options.
➤ Recognize it! If it is not addressed, victims can develop anxiety, stress, depression, etc.
➤ Embrace positive feedback (as hard as that may be) and don’t downplay accomplishments.
➤ Seek help or find a mentor. We forget others feel inadequate, too.
➤ Accept that we can’t do it all. Do what we do, and do it well.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
➤ What does leadership expect from you?
➤ Ask questions early-on:
➤ What are their expectations for your community?
➤ How do they measure “success”?
➤ Determine what metrics are necessary for your team.
➤ What works in one community will not work in another.
➤ Start to track early-on so you don’t get overwhelmed as community grows.
➤ Maintain open and honest communication with your leaders.
SYMPTOMS OF BURNOUT
➤ Chronic fatigue
➤ Anxiety
➤ Insomnia
➤ Difficulty concentrating
➤ Increased illness
➤ Change in appetite
➤ Depression
WHAT CAN WE DO?
➤ Don’t wait until we’ve hit rock bottom (both physical and mental).
➤ Ask for help :)
➤ Make sure you balance your personal life and work schedule.
➤ Disconnect!
➤ It’s ok to say “no” (as hard as that may be).
➤ Take vacations, work from home, go for a walk, etc.
➤ Do you have a friend who can help? Support each other!
RESOURCES
➤ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impostor_syndrome
➤ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/high-octane-women/201311/the-tell-tale-signs-burnout-do-you-have-them
➤ https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/high-octane-women/201104/overcoming-burnout
➤ https://counseling.caltech.edu/general/InfoandResources/Impostor
➤ Clance, P.R.; Imes, S.A. (1978). "The imposter phenomenon in high achieving women: dynamics and therapeutic intervention.". Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice 15 (3): 241–247. doi:10.1037/h0086006