Imposter syndrome

[Andy in Germany]

Qualifications ≠ Competence.

True. Also Confidence ≠ Competence, it's amazing how many people mix up these two.

 

[Gunk]

True. Also Confidence ≠ Competence, it's amazing how many people mix up these two.

Assertiveness is also confused with competence, thats why bullies seem to end up in positions of authority.

 

[Drago]

Assertiveness is also confused with competence, thats why bullies seem to end up in positions of authority.

Certainly the system in the dibble seems to promote a disproportionate amount of folk with sociopathic tendencies.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Assertiveness is also confused with competence, thats why bullies seem to end up in positions of authority.

Indeed, in fact, I think "assertiveness" is possibly a better description of what I meant than "confidence"

 

[mikeIow]

That is why I have never looked for promotion. I have always been a "techie" sort of guy, always a programmer/analyst programmer/data engineer or whatever the term of the day has been.

I always knew I didn't have the people skills to move up into a people management role, and if I had been promoted, it would not have been good for either me, or the people working for me.

For a long time, my last place of work had a firm belief that techies needed a career “progression” (pay grade, title) that allowed them to remain technical. It did very well - the place became a $Bn industry heavyweight.
At one point, in an annual global kick-off, the CFO declared that everyone needed to be able to “go solo” when describing our solutions to customers, and indeed the whole E-staff led very much by example.
One year we had a new CTO, & I ended up in a customer meeting with him at one London event. I was hugely impressed by his ability to “talk tech” with the fairly technical customer we were with.

But yes, we can all think about people who adhered to the Peter Principle in our work lives 🤣

 

[Pblakeney]

For a long time, my last place of work had a firm belief that techies needed a career “progression” (pay grade, title) that allowed them to remain technical. It did very well - the place became a $Bn industry heavyweight.

When I was an apprentice one area of the factory had a foreman on the same salary as the chief engineer.
Why? He was far and away the best at his job and wanted to stay hands on. Simply put, irreplaceable.

 

[Drago]

But yes, we can all think about people who adhered to the Peter Principle in our work lives 🤣

And organisations that positively endorse it.

 

[Electric_Andy]

I mostly feel imposter syndrome on behalf of someone else i.e. they must be imposters because how the heck else did they get the job legitimately? I thought managers with absolutely no clue of how the organisation works, or how things work on the ground, were gone. But they're back. We have a habit of employing nurses and academics as managers. They might be brilliant at what they do, but they can't manage people for toffee. It's because of this that I'm pretty much the opposite; I know most of the stuff from the ground up and can work with people very well, but I choose not to apply for higher grade jobs because I can't stand travelling around and going to meetings, and talking codswallop with other managers

 

[Rusty Nails]

because I can't stand travelling around and going to meetings, and talking codswallop with other managers

This is sort of what made me take redundancy and early retirement at the age of 50. The thought of sitting in the same train going to London every few weeks and then sitting in the same meetings with the same people talking about the same things for the next 15 years just got me depressed.

Best thing I ever did. Did retirement for a couple of months then was approached to do some freelance consultancy work with a company I had worked alongside previously. Enjoyed the freedom of working when I wanted to and not getting involved in the organisational politics and did it for 14 years before calling it a day.

Never managed to stop being amazed that people were prepared to pay good money for my time.

I always liked the definition of a consultant as someone who comes in, borrows your watch, tells you the time, and walks off with your watch.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I always liked the definition of a consultant as someone who comes in, borrows your watch, tells you the time, and walks off with your watch.

And charges you for the privilege, don't forget!

 

[Andy in Germany]

I always liked the definition of a consultant as someone who comes in, borrows your watch, tells you the time, and walks off with your watch.

And charges you for the privilege, don't forget!

I will probably pinch this for the future seminars...

 

[Drago]

A fair few bobbies set up as coaches or consultants of some sort post retirement, and a few do very nicely.

 

[Pblakeney]

This is sort of what made me take redundancy and early retirement at the age of 50. The thought of sitting in the same train going to London every few weeks and then sitting in the same meetings with the same people talking about the same things for the next 15 years just got me depressed.

Best thing I ever did. Did retirement for a couple of months then was approached to do some freelance consultancy work with a company I had worked alongside previously. Enjoyed the freedom of working when I wanted to and not getting involved in the organisational politics and did it for 14 years before calling it a day.

Never managed to stop being amazed that people were prepared to pay good money for my time.

I always liked the definition of a consultant as someone who comes in, borrows your watch, tells you the time, and walks off with your watch.

You are Reginald Perrin and I claim my £5.

 

[Rusty Nails]

You are Reginald Perrin and I claim my £5.

I'm retired now and can't afford £5.

Leonard Rossiter was one of my favourite actors...and a good squash player so must have been a good bloke.

 

[DaveReading]

It took me a while to realise that I have an innate ability to teach and train people, especially people with mental or psychological issues, and not everyone can do this. In the coming months, I'm teaming up with a good friend to give seminars in this subject, and I'll have to keep reminding myself that I do know what I'm talking about.

Exactly.

You can't teach (anything) unless you're capable of understanding how something that you find easy might actually be difficult for other people to master.