It’s not what you are that holds you back, It’s what you think you are not.

Imposter Syndrome refers to an internal experience of believing that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be.

While this definition is usually narrowly applied to intelligence and achievement, it has links to perfectionism and the social context

Developers are particularly prone to imposter syndrome. Many of us have the constant feeling of not being good enough or knowing enough to do our job well.

To put it simply, imposter syndrome is the experience of feeling like a phony.

you feel as though at any moment you are going to be found out as a fraud, like you don’t belong where you are, and you only got there through dumb luck.

It can affect anyone no matter their social status, work background, skill level, or degree of expertise.

So, let’s see two common root causes for this.

Software Development never stops evolving

This encourages the frequent creation of new languages, frameworks and tools. So, there’s always more to learn and it’s only going to get more complex as the industry matures.

As software engineers, developers or architects, it is pivotal to stay current and relevant within the technologies and the domains we work.

Some of the skills we studied a few years ago at university have become outdated, so unless we get in charge of our learning we will lose our competitiveness. Also, we quite often sacrifice learning and development in favor of project deadlines.

The Media creates unrealistic perceptions around the tech industry.

Often Programmers and tech company’s founders are portrayed as brilliant and uniquely creative in the media. It’s no wonder that so many people feel that they can never make it as a top-tier developer.

The problem with impostor syndrome is that the experience of doing well at something does nothing to change your beliefs.

Even though you might sail through a performance or have lunch with coworkers, the thought still nags in your head, “What gives me the right to be here?”

The more you accomplish, the more you just feel like a fraud. It’s as though you can’t internalize your experiences of success.

#Tip 1 — Keep track of your accomplishments!

Regularly reflecting on your successes can help remind you of how far you’ve come and how good you really are.

One good way to do this is to add all of your accomplishments to a portfolio at the end of every month.

Another good way is to Find a way to track small incremental steps toward the larger goal and track those small steps daily.

Little accomplishments add up to big accomplishments. If a monthly or quarterly revenue target is your goal, find a way to track this daily to ensure you are on target or identify whether or not you are behind. It creates accountability daily.

#Tip 2 — Set a reward system!

To keep track of your progress on a goal, set up a reward system for yourself.

Write down your goals and choose a reward for each major milestone you accomplish on the way to your ultimate goal. Setting up a reward system will not only help track your progress but keep you motivated, too.

#Tip 3 — Adopt the growth mindset

People with the fixed mindset have a constant need to prove their competence.

Your feeling of inadequacy is a signal that you’re being challenged. To really become a great developer, you need to embrace that challenge and view it as an opportunity to learn and grow.

The growth mindset can open pathways to more creativity and possibility, and enable the setting of higher goals and more achievement.

The concept of a growth mindset is a popular topic lately, and I sometimes say to myself “Self, you need to embrace the growth mindset. The growth mindset is cool.”

Why? The aptly named growth mindset helps us grow in whatever we pursue — especially in our work. When we’re growing, we’re more productive. And when I’m productive, I feel better. And you can, too.

A growth mindset believes that one’s fundamental abilities can be developed through perseverance and effort.

intelligence and talent are simply good starting points. A growth mindset is synonymous with a love of learning.

By contrast, in a fixed mindset, intelligence and talent are seen as fixed traits, suggesting that success comes from these inherent qualities alone, without the need for further development or effort.

#Tip 4 — Comprehend the reality of Imposter Syndrome!

As we saw earlier, in imposter syndrome you’re comparing what you know to what you think other people know.

You see everyone else’s success and intelligence, but you sparingly see their doubts, struggles and low points. Almost everyone has imposter syndrome.

While for some people, impostor syndrome can fuel feelings of motivation to achieve, this usually comes at a cost in the form of constant anxiety. You might over-prepare or work much harder than necessary to “make sure” that nobody finds out you are a fraud.

#Tip 5 — Plan your career goals!

Career planning, or setting career goals, is a good thing to do for your career as a software developer. Learn why, and how, in this guide.

Sometimes, you experience imposter syndrome because you don’t know where you are and what you want to achieve in your career journey. To combat this, you should set goals and plan your career path.

These career goals can be focused on achieving a specific job title or area of expertise, working for a specific company, or getting a role in a certain industry. We all should have career goals.

It provides the direction and motivation that we need to get ahead in our careers.

If we don’t have any goals or targets or any idea of where we want to go in our career, then what should we be doing?

Lastly, I have a question for you that do you have Imposter Syndrome?

Share your thoughts on How can we overcome this phenomenon?