Imposter Syndrome
The annual AIOH conference is the landmark occupational hygiene event in Australia. It serves as a Mecca for seasoned and junior hygienists alike to socialise, network, and knowledge share. With a collective several thousand years of experience, it’s inevitable that someone is an expert in any given speciality (even if they are loathed to accept that title). The conference offers an unparalleled opportunities, but I can’t help but feel a strong imposter syndrome.
I think being an imposter is feeling like you don’t deserve to belong. At its core I think it is a sense of inadequacy.
What if you were to take it at face value? What if the insecurity is right? What if you are inadequate? For the last 12 months, can you honestly say you’ve been diligently developing your technical and soft skills? Mastering any skill or profession takes routine and intentional practice. Yet it is surprisingly easy to in day to day work to be focus on meeting deadlines or billable hours, using only the knowledge of which we are already familiar (and comfortable with). Not to mention all the time and effort required for everything outside of work. Perhaps it serves as an uncomfortable wake-up call. Something we try to dismiss as the fault of circumstance. “I’m too busy.” “I’m not wired to understand that stuff.” And so what? We learn so slowly that we stagnate indefinitely until retirement where we look back and realise we’ve achieved or contributed nothing?
…. or maybe that’s just the internal imposter speaking.
This feeling is common
What surprised me the most was realising how pervasive this feeling is. Junior hygienists shared their overwhelm from the pure number of attendees, the amount of content presented, and a hesitancy to network. “I could never talk to ‘xxx’, they’re too important/smart. I just hang around my workmates”.
But what really caught me off guard was how many veteran hygienists that I talked to shared how they have imposter syndrome too. That while they may know a fair bit in their field, and have well-established networks, they are not immune to the Syndrome.
This feeling is good (if managed)
Clearly, if this anxiety is stopping you from participating, then that is awful. However, I think that there is a silver lining to impostor syndrome. For one, if we framed it as humility impostor syndrome can be proof that you’re still self-aware enough to know that you don’t know everything. If you can accept that you don’t (and can’t) know everything then perhaps you can use this unease as positive motivation to continue to grow and learn.
This feeling can be managed
The absolute best thing about the AIOH is just how supportive and friendly people are. Senior hygienists, sharing their vulnerabilities, and being empathetic of mine, gave me a sense of belonging and confidence that went a long way to quieten the voice of the impostor.
I think back over the conference and consider all of the wonderful people that I could meet again – friends, old colleagues, old teachers, mentors – and all of the people that I met for the first time. I genuinely believe that we have such an amazing community. Ironically, imposter syndrome can prevent you from being involved, but it’s the involvement that helps you connect with these wonderful people who can share how they have managed and flourished.
Takeaways
For what it’s worth, here is what I have taken away from all this introspection:
Learn intentionally - there is so much to learn that it is important to be intentional, methodical, and dogged in learning / seeking opportunities
Learn with fun - It’s impossible to know everything. Be selective in what what you consume and do so that it is helpful to your work, but also find what is personally satisfying.
Don’t learn alone - there is so much support out there, even if you are physically isolated from industry colleagues. Someone has done it before.
Some personal stats about post-conference learning:
Software applications to investigate - 2
Textbooks to read - 3
Journal articles to read - 9
People to follow-up - 15