Imposter syndrome is a prevalent topic in the tech industry, a persistent feeling that you may not be as knowledgeable or experienced as your peers. It often contributes to anxiety and burnout, leaving many engineers feeling inadequate. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to this problem, I’d like to share how pair programming made an impact on my own battle with imposter syndrome and how it can help others as well.
Imposter Syndrome?
Two significant factors contribute to imposter syndrome: domain knowledge and self-confidence. When you’re new to a project or company, your confidence can take a hit because you’re not yet familiar with the technology stack, coding standards, project requirements, and so on. Additionally, self-confidence hinges on your familiarity with patterns, concepts, communication skills, debugging, and writing tests.
Why Program with Your Pair?
Pair programming is an effective approach to address both of these imposter syndrome components:
Tackling Domain Knowledge
When you’re new to a project, pair programming can be a game-changer. You’re likely to be paired with someone who has a wealth of domain knowledge. They can guide you through the tech stack, coding standards, and project requirements. While you drive, your pair can provide real-time reminders, ensuring you stay aligned with project needs and reducing concerns about forgetting standards or ticket requirements.
Boosting Self-Confidence
Receiving reassurance from your pair is a powerful way to combat self-doubt. While pairing, your partner can provide guidance on coding practices, your understanding of concepts, and the problems you’re trying to solve. Over time, this constructive feedback helps refine your skills and knowledge as a software developer. You can confidently present your ideas, checking them against your partner’s expertise to ensure they are sound and free from gaps. Your knowledge and confidence gradually grow.
It’s essential to acknowledge that pair programming is not a panacea. Software development involves multiple approaches to problem-solving and varied technologies with distinct pros and cons. Pair programming should be seen as a tool to build skills and self-assurance to confront imposter syndrome. Ultimately, it should empower you to work independently when needed.
Overcome Imposter Syndrome with Pair Programming
Imposter syndrome is a complex issue affecting many in the software engineering field. To manage it, you must take a multifaceted approach. Pair programming, in my experience, offers a practical solution to a significant portion of the problem. It’s a step toward gaining confidence and competence, helping you realize that you have valuable contributions to make in the tech world.