“Gaining more responsibility has given me reason to believe in myself. The executives I’ve spoken with shared that with each challenge accepted and conquered, they gained confidence. Just do it,” said Megan Costello, former executive director of the Boston Mayor’s Office for Women’s Advancement.Īn added bonus? Confidence is the byproduct of courage. “As women, we often feel like we have to be 100% ready in order to move forward. My work has found that successful women take decisive action to move forward even while grappling with fears and doubts and questioning their own “readiness.” What these women also had in common is courage in the absence of confidence - a trait that is often weaponized against women and used to explain why they fail to achieve career goals. The vast majority of successful women leaders I’ve interviewed and coached have built vibrant and fulfilling careers even while facing self-doubt. While this pattern of self-doubt emerged again and again in studies, my interactions, and my client work, I also noticed another commonality: These women’s self-doubts weren’t sabotaging their success. Ultimately, men take more chances on themselves, and that pays dividends in the long run. Another recent study identified a substantial gender gap when it comes to self-promotion, with women systematically providing less favorable assessments of their own past performance and potential future ability.
Research has also shown that women will apply for a job only if they meet all of the qualifications, while men will apply when they fulfill only 60%.
A study by psychologists at Cornell and Washington State highlighted higher levels of self-doubt in women. We know self-doubt is a pervasive and often paralyzing concern, particularly for women. I doubt that I am good enough to be where I am.”
I recently asked more than 120 women, from areas including the U.S., UK, Australia, Georgia, Italy, India, Jamaica, and Bermuda: If you’ve ever avoided risks, what factors and reasons contributed to this? More than 70% reported that self-doubt, or not having enough belief in themselves, their capabilities, or their skills, was a driving factor.Īs one high-profile executive told me: “Every day I doubt myself.
If you can relate, you’re among the majority of women with whom I’ve worked. Perhaps the voice in your head asked: “Why me?” Have you ever shied away from taking on a role or opportunity because you didn’t feel confident enough? Perhaps your inner critic told you that you weren’t yet ready, weren’t capable enough, or didn’t have enough experience.
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