Drop the Leash: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome with Lessons from Dog Psychology

Most of us in tech struggle with imposter syndrome, but we rarely talk about it openly. After working as both a dog psychologist and a software engineer, I've discovered an unexpected source of wisdom: dogs don't suffer from imposter syndrome—they are authentically themselves. Here's what they taught me about confidence, self-doubt, and finally dropping the leash of fear that holds us back.

The Imposter's Voice

Picture this: you've just been promoted to senior engineer. You should feel accomplished, but instead you're terrified. That voice in your head whispers, "They're going to find out you don't belong here." You second-guess every technical decision, over-prepare for meetings, and attribute your successes to luck.

Sound familiar? You're experiencing imposter syndrome—that persistent feeling of being a fraud despite evidence of your competence. It affects everyone from junior developers to CTOs, yet we rarely discuss it openly. We suffer in silence, convinced we're the only ones feeling this way.

As a software engineer at Doctolib, I felt this acutely. Despite my PhD and years of experience, I questioned whether I truly deserved my role. But my work as a dog psychologist taught me something profound about confidence that completely changed my perspective.

The Leash Metaphor

Working with anxious dogs taught me about invisible restraints. An anxious dog, even when off-leash, will stay close to their owner's side, afraid to explore or express their natural behaviors. They've internalized the leash—it's no longer physical, but mental. They hold themselves back.

The solution isn't positive affirmations or fake-it-till-you-make-it advice. It's fundamentally understanding where this internal leash comes from and learning practical strategies to release it—just like we do with dogs.

Dropping the Leash: Three Principles

1. Recognize the Pattern

Dogs with leash reactivity often don't realize they're being reactive—they're just responding to what feels threatening. Similarly, we need to recognize our imposter syndrome patterns. Are you over-preparing? Attributing success to luck? Avoiding challenges? The first step is awareness.

2. Embrace Your Authentic Self

Confident dogs are authentically themselves—a Golden Retriever doesn't try to be a German Shepherd. Your unique perspective and experience are valuable precisely because they're yours. Stop trying to be the "perfect" engineer and start being the engineer you naturally are.

3. Focus on Growth, Not Perfection

Dogs learn through play and making mistakes. They don't spend time worrying about whether they deserve to chase that ball. Shift from a performance mindset ("I must prove I belong") to a learning mindset ("I'm here to grow and contribute").

The Pack Mentality Advantage

Dogs are naturally collaborative. They don't compete with their pack mates—they complement each other's strengths. A herding dog doesn't feel inadequate next to a hunting dog; they understand they each have different roles to play.

In tech teams, imposter syndrome often makes us view colleagues as competition rather than collaborators. When you realize that your unique background—whether it's dog psychology, a non-traditional education path, or different cultural perspective—adds value to the team, you shift from defensive to collaborative.

When Caution Is Healthy

Not all self-doubt is imposter syndrome. Sometimes caution is appropriate. A dog that sniffs a new food before eating isn't suffering from anxiety— it's being prudent. The key is distinguishing between healthy caution and self-sabotaging fear.

Healthy caution says: "Let me double-check this critical system before deployment." Imposter syndrome says: "I shouldn't be the one making this decision at all." One is about quality; the other is about self-worth. The trick is recognizing when your inner voice is helping versus harming.

Conclusion: Trust Yourself

The best careers are built on self-trust. Trust that you have valuable perspectives to contribute. Trust that your unique background is an asset, not a liability. Trust that you can learn and grow from challenges rather than avoiding them.

When you drop the leash of imposter syndrome, amazing things happen. You become more resilient because you're not dependent on external validation. You move faster because you're not paralyzed by self-doubt. And you become easier to work with because you're collaborating from a place of confidence, not fear.

The next time that imposter voice whispers in your head, ask yourself: "Is this fear helping me grow, or is it holding me back?" More often than not, it's time to drop the leash—and your future self will thank you for the courage.