DrLisette

Anyone who is in a management position can help greatly by helping normalize the experience for the newer individuals. This can look like:

• checking in with them about how they are regarding their confidence at work
• sharing that this is something that most people experience and if you experienced this sharing your own story can be very inspiring
• creating spaces of support, does your company have employee resources groups where they can connect?
• Encourage your employees to track their wins. When someone feels like an impostor they usually are focusing on their limitations.

Thanks again for your question!

One thing that I know about the Impostor Phenomenon (IP) is that people who hold any marginalized identity are more likely to experience this. Basically, if you are the only woman in a male-dominated workplace. You are more likely to experience this. I am not sure that there is a correlation specific to certain areas of study/work. I do agree with you, there are constant changes happening in the IT world. There are actually certain behaviors that people can engage in that can also amplify their experience of being an impostor. One of these is the belief that they must be "an expert" and know it all. Being in IT, you can't know it ALL as it is constantly changing. Acceptance is a big part of overcoming it.

This is why I prefer to refer to it as the Impostor Phenomenon. Syndrome is pathologizing and insinuates that there is something wrong with you, whereas phenomenon highlights that you are experiencing a reaction to an environment. Management should work on making it a more welcoming environment. Once an individual is no longer experiencing the oppressive environment, then they are better able to challenge the thoughts and beliefs that were reinforcing their experience of being an impostor.

I am not sure about which field it is most common in but there are populations who are at a higher risk to experience this. It is usually people who hold any marginalized identities, aka a minority race, women, a first gen professional etc.

First off, I am glad that you found therapy to be so helpful and that you have started to work on breaking those generational cycles. It is hard not to harbor resentment towards people who have hurt you and are an important part of your life. I think it is great that you are trying to help them heal as well but at the end of the day, they would need to put in the same work that you did to better understand their own unhealthy behavior patterns. My biggest advice would be to consider what boundaries you can set to help you maintain your inner peace. Perhaps you reduce how much you communicate with some of these family members or have topics that you do not discuss. At times this means accepting that we may only be able to have a surface-level relationship and that ok. I hope these quick tips help!