FOSES: How to Combat Imposter Syndrome
FOSES: How to Combat Imposter Syndrome
To start with, thank you for clicking on this article. It's been a challenging piece for me to write, as it encapsulates my inner thoughts and demons, giving insight into the inner workings of my mind. This topic covers a heavy subject that I've aptly named FOSES—the Fear of Sounding Extremely Stupid.
Now, be aware: this is a highly personal subject, so your experience may differ. I wrote this article in hopes of helping someone get over their own fear, named or not, and to push themselves past the challenges it presents.
What in God's Name is FOSES?
Let me shortly describe it for you before we dive into the nitty-gritty details:
FOSES is the feeling of standing in a field of experts, nerds, geeks, and smart people, and fearing that every word you say makes you sound even more stupid than the last. (Also known as Imposter Syndrome).
Where does this feeling stem from, and why am I writing about it? My name is Patrick, and over the last two years, I transitioned from being a Level 1 Tech Support agent to a temporary Application Consultant on a large-scale development project. With any new position, there is a level of uncertainty, which is only elevated when the people around you have years of experience compared to your own.
Let's look into a concept that explains the background of this issue: the Dunning-Kruger Effect.
Welcome to Mount Stupid
The Dunning-Kruger effect maps a person's confidence against their competence in a given field. Once engaged in learning a new subject, you usually find yourself at the Peak of Mount Stupid, thinking the subject at hand is quite easy: "Why did I think this was hard?" We have all passed this peak at one point. Compared to the next stage, it's a stage where you feel like a superhero. You can do everything in half the time; nothing can stop you. It's paradise! But all good things must come to an end.
The Valley of Despair: Home of FOSES
Welcome to reality. You realize you know nothing, everything is heartbreaking, and you feel unqualified while the guy next to you knows everything. Your own knowledge feels like that of a monkey with a laptop attempting to develop the next ChatGPT.
The Valley of Despair is ruthless, unforgiving, and has the ability to break your spirit. This is exactly where FOSES kicks in. Common thoughts during this phase include:
- "What is this?"
- "I don't know about this."
- "If I ask this, they'll think I'm an idiot, they'll fire me!"
- "I'm not even good enough for this position, why did I accept it?"
These thoughts creep into your everyday work. Looking over your monitor to see colleagues having meetings and being brilliant while you sit with an ever-growing feeling of anxiety can be mind-numbing. It will only be elevated unless you realize you are not alone.
Many times, we unfairly measure ourselves against others:
"Well, Bob has 10 certifications, he's highly educated, and he's got 20 people messaging him all the time. That man is so busy, how can I ever live up to that?"
The reality is, we can't instantly be like the experts sitting next to us. But we can continue to evolve, improve, and deliver results.
Be Honest!
No need to feel pressured to be the perfect expert from day one. We all have knowledge gaps. The quicker you are honest—not only with yourself but with the people around you—the quicker you can start learning.
Most of the time, experts are happy to share their knowledge. If you're uncertain, just ask. The first step to overcoming FOSES is realizing you're not going to sound stupid by asking.
Experience ≠ Personal Value
One of the realizations I made early on is that experience does not equal personal value. Your value to an employer is often bound more in motivation and willingness to learn rather than current skill. High motivation with lower skill frequently beats out high skill with low motivation.
Ask yourself: who would you rather have in the company out of these two people?
| Employee | Skill Level | Attitude & Motivation | Value to the Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bob | High | Low (Stubborn, "My way or the highway") | Agitating, stagnant, and frustrating to work with. |
| Steve | Growing | High (Eager to learn, asks questions) | Adaptable, improving, and a pleasant experience. |
Steve asks questions—knowing they might sound stupid to Bob—not to be annoying, but because he wants to improve. He meets the needs of the company instead of just his own ego.
Beating FOSES
Just ask! No one will beat you over the head; most of the time, they will applaud you for reaching out.
Growth is critical in the IT field. It's a rapidly evolving environment, and you cannot grow without sounding a little bit "stupid" at times. Reach out, ask for help, and seek guidance. Otherwise, you will stagnate on a plateau, never evolving.
We all have fears, and the worst thing you can do is let them control you. We can't cure all our fears, but I hope this article helped you beat at least one: the Fear of Sounding Extremely Stupid.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. It was a fear I had to conquer myself to write an article on a personal matter, but I hope you enjoyed it!
Until next time!
- paro