I’ll start by staying I am not a therapist nor a mental health professional. I am a technologist and I’m sharing my own lived experience in this post.
These are topics come up frequently in my coaching sessions. It can be in the context of interviews. The day-to-day grind of the tech industry. The uncertainty of the job market. General chaos. Constant curve balls from leads. AI. Everywhere. Anything. Everything.
My Own Journey
I’ve had anxiety my entire life. I had always thought this was just the way life was. It was my lived experience. They didn’t have names. It was just the way life was.
One memorial day weekend, in the late 2000’s, my anxiety paralyzed me. I couldn’t leave my apartment. It was after this moment that I deiced to find a therapist. When I joined Google as an Engineering Manager, I was surprised to find that Imposter Syndrome was discussed on Day 1. It made me realize that even at the highest levels of the tech industry, these feelings are universal. Now I had a name for this as well.
Tools
Pause. Take a breath.
This is my go to. I use when I become aware that I’m experiencing any of these. If you’re reading this post, you too have this tool. However, in my experience, while it’s an innate ability, it took a lot of training, a leap of faith, (trust in my therapist, not religous) and lots of practice (both in the past and on-going) to learn how to wield it effectively. I’m going to call this mindfulness.
Dealing with Engineering Stress and Anxiety
How do you practice? Mediation.
Mindfulness:Mediation::Lifting a Box::Going to the gym
Navigating the ‘day-to-day grind’ of tech shouldn’t feel like a solo battle. If imposter syndrome, anxiety or strees is holding you back, let’s have a low-pressure chat if you want to dig into this formula and learn more.
I've spent over 25 years navigating the software engineering landscape—scaling teams, fostering well-being, and mentoring the next generation of technical leaders. After 6.5 years at Google, I built a coaching practice to help talented engineers and techies unlock their potential and build the momentum that transforms careers. I'm the coach who meets you at your pivotal moments and helps you make the most of them.