Bridging The Confidence Gap
The confidence gap refers to the difference in self-assurance and perceived confidence between men and women in the workplace. It is the experience of women in the workplace feeling and being seen by their peers as less confident in a professional setting. A University of Glasgow survey revealed that 75% of employed women lack confidence at work, regardless of their sector as compared to 30 % of men. And, this is especially true for women under 30 years of age.
As Wayne Gretzky famously said, "you miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Confidence is the key that allows us to take the shots at what we want in life (or at least in our career). The confidence gap can be a chasm for many female professionals as it can negatively impact assertiveness, pursuit of new opportunities, negotiation for promotions or raises, taking on leadership roles, and contributing ideas. In another study, the research showed that 73% of women lacked the confidence to pursue a job opportunity beyond their experience, 65% didn’t ask for a promotion that interested them, 61% didn’t request a raise they thought they were due, and 56% did not put themselves forward for a new role or position that appealed to them. Perhaps most telling is the research done by HP which found that male employees were likely to apply for promotions when they felt they met 60% of the qualifications listed, while female employees only applied when they believed they met 100% of the job qualifications.
None of these statistics refer to instances where women are being denied access to these opportunities – this ceiling is self-constructed, although there are many contributors and reinforcers for this confidence gap. The good news is that a bridge can be built over the gap. - Confidence is a skill that can be learned and strengthened. Like professional athletes who want to improve a specific component of their game, enlisting a coach to deconstruct and reformulate the approach is a great confidence-building strategy. Aligning with female mentors who you see as assertive and confident is another great strategy. Likewise, surrounding yourself with like-minded women who want to develop in this area is powerful and can take the form of workshops or training programmes to share experiences that can empower you. In a KPMG Women’s Leadership study, 67% of women said they needed more support building confidence to feel like they can be leaders, whilst 78% of women who attended a woman in leadership conference reported feeling “more optimistic” about their future as professionals and their odds of increasing their salary were higher than those who did not attend a targeted women in leadership programme.
By focusing on building confidence, women can overcome the limitations of the confidence gap, unlock their full potential, and advance in their careers. Confidence can empower women to embrace new opportunities, take calculated risks, and confidently pursue career goals. This will lead to greater personal and professional fulfillment – so let’s start bridging that gap!