Thread by @amac

A quick bit on impostor syndrome, conferences, + what you can do as a speaker & organizer to help others w/ it based on attending #ORDCamp (one of the most intentionally inclusive exclusive events I've ever attended -- though the bar is low).
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Impostor syndrome is a feeling of self-doubt that one's accomplishments or belonging to a group will be discovered as a fraud.
It is extremely common. I often have it. So do many other folks.
Even truly amazing people like @MichelleObama.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impostor_…
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One of the common themes is that other people, the truly successful who "deserve" their accolades and success, are somehow different. The person who feels that they are an impostor is made to feel that they "don't belong" in that group.
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Impostor syndrome is another hurdle faced by people who are generally made to feel like they don't belong in some group. Feeling that less, is another white/male/hetero/cis privilege + all the more reason to intentionally combat both out-grouping & impostor syndrome.
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Conference organizers, speakers, and attendees can help. First, as an organizer, name this feeling and encourage people to talk about it.
ed.ted.com/lessons/what-i…
For example, at #ORDCamp orientation, in small groups we were prompted to talk about it.
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Do all the stuff you would normally do to encourage people to think of themselves as part of the group. Encourage people introducing themselves, treat people as group members, make diverse subgroups for ease of identification w/ group, do group building exercises.
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At #ORDCamp people were organized into ~20 person neighbourhoods, badges emphasized first names, and a huge rock/paper/scissors game put us all on the same level in the first plenary. These sometimes feel corny but are worth doing anyway.
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For me, among the most powerful ways of combating it is speakers behaving like attendees. For example, at #ORDCamp, witnessing @eveewing @Astro_Cady @deray @nicolewong @astro_kjell and many other extraordinary folks listen, laugh + ask questions (just like me!) really helped.
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If you are a speaker at a conf, consider going to a session (or the whole conf) and asking questions. Remember when @BarackObama did it at his own conf?

https://twitter.com/EthanZ/status/925875906530463744

ethanzuckerman.com/blog/2017/11/0…
Definitely tell people they are as important as you, but also SHOW them.
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Finally, know that none of this will "cure" impostor syndrome so try to make it so that even people who have it will still have a good and meaningful conference by enabling participation by folks who believe they are impostors (diversifying how you can participate, etc).
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#ORDCamp organizers @therealfitz @zkaplan @shostack are pros at this (but they are people just like you).

PS Would love more suggestions on this thread. I am not an expert on this topic (and that is truth, not impostor syndrome).

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