Being a Failure

Learning to be a Failure David G. Simmons Senior DevRel, InfluxData @davidgsIoT

Let’s All Get On The Same Page @davidgsIoT

em·pa·thy /ˈempəTHē/ noun the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash Empathy @davidgsIoT

sym·pa·thy /ˈsimpəTHē/ noun feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else’s misfortune. Photo by Mat Reding on Unsplash Sympathy @davidgsIoT

un·der·stand·ing /ˌəndərˈstandiNG/ noun The ability to understand something; comprehension. adjective Sympathetically aware of other people’s feelings; tolerant and forgiving. Photo by ian dooley on Unsplash Understanding ARCHAIC Having insight or good judgment. @davidgsIoT

Impostor Syndrome How many of you know what impostor syndrome is? How many of you experience it? The rest of you are saying to yourselves: “I’m not admitting that or they’ll know I’m an impostor!” @davidgsIoT

Photo by Artem Maltsev on Unsplash How do we develop these qualities? @davidgsIoT

In Public Photo by Jen Theodore on Unsplash We Make Mistakes @davidgsIoT

It’s Story Time @davidgsIoT

em·bar·rass·ment /əmˈberəsmənt/ noun 1. a feeling of selfconsciousness, shame, or awkwardness. Photo by Dmitry Ratushny on Unsplash Embarrassment @davidgsIoT

But Then … @davidgsIoT

And Also … @davidgsIoT

And My Favorite … @davidgsIoT

Feel What They Feel ✦ Your users are embarrassed to ask ‘stupid’ questions ✦ They feel like impostors for not already knowing the answers ✦ Your community can either shame them or have empathy for them ✦ They will take their lead from you ✦ Do the hard work of making your mistakes public ✦ Your community will support you ✦ Your users will respect you ✦ They will feel empowered to do the same @davidgsIoT

— Laura Santamaria Photo by Stefan Gunnarsson on Unsplash Having the courage to share your vulnerabilities and mistakes often prompts more people to do the same, which magnifies your impact. @davidgsIoT

Privilege noun a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group. Photo by Lucas Sankey on Unsplash priv·i·lege /ˈpriv(ə)lij/ @davidgsIoT

My Privilege: Being able to make mistakes in public Isn’t White Male Privilege Great? @davidgsIoT

Spend Your Privilege Help PoC (and other marginalized people) reduce the burden of added labor that they spend on proving that they have the right to be there at all, before they even get to the point of doing something wrong. @davidgsIoT

Thank You! davidgs@influxdata.com @davidgsIoT