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There's a technical/non-technical divide that has divided the corporate world for too long. "Technical" folks are expected to stay heads down in the code while the "non-technical" people do the "soft stuff": sales, marketing, communications, and strategy. But as cross-functional teams are becoming the norm and non-traditional training resources become accessible, the line between the two is starting to blur. For those of us who come from a non-technical background, it can be intimidating to stand up and claim a technical title. This presentation reviews three pieces of research that Andrea Goulet, the CEO of Corgibytes, a software development firm dedicated to modernizing codebases, found invaluable in her journey across the technical chasm.
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RELEASING THE IMPOSTER CROSSING THE CONFIDENCE GAP FROM THE NON-TECHNICAL WORLD By Andrea Goulet Co-Founder & CEO Corgibytes @andreagoulet
THE WHOLE PROBLEM WITH THE WORLD IS THAT FOOLS AND FANATICS ARE ALWAYS SO CERTAIN OF THEMSELVES, BUT WISER PEOPLE SO FULL OF DOUBTS. -BERTRAND RUSSELL @andreagoulet
IMPOSTER SYNDROME Chronic self-doubt that overrides any feelings of success, even in the face of external proof. High-achieving perfectionists are most susceptible. @andreagoulet source: h*ps://hbr.org/2008/05/overcoming-imposter-syndrome/
SOME DAY EVERYONE WILL FIND OUT I’M NOT _______ LIKE THEY THINK I AM. technical THEY’LL FIND OUT I’M ACTUALLY _______ just a marketer. @andreagoulet
“Andrea? She’s non-technical.” -my business partner on a prominent podcast @andreagoulet
“I’m the CEO of a software company! Of course I’m technical!” -angry me @andreagoulet
“But that’s not how you introduced yourself to the new client yesterday. I just repeated what you said. Verbatim.” -confused business partner @andreagoulet
“Seriously? I said that?” -embarrassed me @andreagoulet
“Seriously? I said that?” -embarrassed me “Yeah. You did. Why?” -supportive partner @andreagoulet
WHO DECIDES? A FAIRY GODMOTHER? @andreagoulet
AS A SALESPERSON, I TURNED THIS… contacts query cold call prayers @andreagoulet
…INTO THIS event name events fields month met interest biz cards contacts queries message templates meeting requests series personal note email @andreagoulet
RESULTS? CLOSED LOTS OF DEALS #3 REP IN NATION AFTER 6 MONTHS OUTSOLD OFFICE ON VACATION @andreagoulet
WHAT SOFTWARE PRINCIPLES DID I LEARN IN SALES? 1. Agile - didn’t plan system. Test -> Learn -> Repeat 2. DRY- low tolerance for inefficiencies 3. Systems Thinking - Managing complexity and interdependencies 4. Database Scripting for advanced queries using Boolean logic 5. Loops - system repeated itself 6. Templates = Methods; Contacts = Parameter; Fields = Attributes 7. Object Oriented - Classes (ex: email is a subclass of message) 8. Variable Naming - had to name custom fields for correct insertion 9. Edge Cases -“a” before a field with a vowel 10. Testing - regularly ran test cases to ensure desired output. @andreagoulet
VULNERABILITY & SHAME CONFIDENCE GAP GROWTH MINDSET @andreagoulet
DR. BRENÉ BROWN GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCHER @andreagoulet
GUILT “I MADE A MISTAKE” SHAME “I AM A MISTAKE” Holding something we’ve done or failed to do up against our values and feeling psychological discomfort. The intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging. @andreagoulet source: h*p://www.amazon.com/Daring-Greatly-Courage-Vulnerable-Transforms/dp/1592408419/
GUILT INVERSELY CORRELATED TO: DEPRESSION ANXIETY VIOLENCE ADDICTION BULLYING EATING DISORDERS SHAME CORRELATED TO: DEPRESSION ANXIETY VIOLENCE ADDICTION BULLYING EATING DISORDERS @andreagoulet source: h*p://www.amazon.com/Daring-Greatly-Courage-Vulnerable-Transforms/dp/1592408419/
“PERFECTIONISM IS A SELF DESTRUCTIVE AND ADDICTIVE BELIEF SYSTEM THAT FUELS THIS PRIMARY THOUGHT: IF I LOOK PERFECT, AND DO EVERYTHING PERFECTLY, I CAN AVOID OR MINIMIZE THE PAINFUL FEELINGS OF SHAME, JUDGMENT, AND BLAME.” -BRENÉ BROWN @andreagoulet source: h*p://www.amazon.com/Daring-Greatly-Courage-Vulnerable-Transforms/dp/1592408419/
“HEALTHY STRIVING IS SELF- FOCUSED: "HOW CAN I IMPROVE?" PERFECTIONISM IS OTHER-FOCUSED: "WHAT WILL THEY THINK?” -BRENÉ BROWN @andreagoulet source: h*p://www.amazon.com/Daring-Greatly-Courage-Vulnerable-Transforms/dp/1592408419/
THE CONFIDENCE GAP KATTY KAY & CLAIRE SHIPMAN @andreagoulet
WHEN ASKED: WHAT % OF QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU NEED TO MEET TO APPLY FOR A JOB? MEN WOMEN @andreagoulet source: h*p://www.theatlanIc.com/magazine/archive/2014/05/the-confidence-gap/359815/
WHEN ASKED: WHAT % OF QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU NEED TO MEET TO APPLY FOR A JOB? MEN WOMEN 60% @andreagoulet source: h*p://www.theatlanIc.com/magazine/archive/2014/05/the-confidence-gap/359815/
WHEN ASKED: WHAT % OF QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU NEED TO MEET TO APPLY FOR A JOB? MEN WOMEN 60% 100% @andreagoulet source: h*p://www.theatlanIc.com/magazine/archive/2014/05/the-confidence-gap/359815/
GROWTH MINDSET DR. CAROL DWECK @andreagoulet
FIXED MINDSET FAILURE = SHAME SHORT TERM SUCCESS WON’T TRY NEW THINGS STATIONARY OLD ME GROWTH MINDSET FAILURE = GROWTH LONG TERM SUCCESS ALWAYS LEARNING ADAPTABLE NEW ME Believing that your qualities are carved in stone—the fixed mindset—creates an urgency to prove yourself over and over. @andreagoulet source: h*ps://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve
BE YOUR OWN FAIRY GODDAMMIT! @andreagoulet
Am I technical or non-technical? BOTH. @andreagoulet
QUESTIONS? @andreagoulet
Contact Info @andreagoulet corgibytes.com @andreagoulet