How to Bridge the Confidence Gap at Work

A common thread running through all disparities women face in the workplace, be it executive roles or pay level, is the disparity in confidence. Research has proven that women are considerably less confident than their male counterparts and, therefore, are far less likely to self-advocate from the fear of negative repercussions. Confidence is just as important as hard work if a woman wishes to overcome gender bias. In this article, we will analyze the confidence gap at work and look for ways to bridge that difference.  

What Is the Confidence Gap? 

According to Claire Shipman and Katty Kay, authors of the 2014 book The Confidence Code, "Underqualified and underprepared men don't think twice about leaning in. Overqualified and over-prepared, too many women still hold back." 

We can understand the confidence gap from the fact that, from female interns to women holding c-suite positions, nearly all suffer from imposter syndrome. They feel as if they do not deserve their position and are always under the assumption that their lack of knowledge and ability will be discovered at any moment. This constant state of insecurity makes them vulnerable and feel unworthy.

While many men go through similar tendencies, studies have shown that it does not affect their day-to-day lives. Imposter syndrome affects many competent women occupying top positions and fosters inequality within the power dynamics, causing much gender discrimination in the workplace.  

How to Bridge the Confidence Gap at Work?  

This confidence gap will exist for as long as women do not believe in their abilities. However, there are several practical methods that can help to change this scenario.  

Build a Support Group  

To feel confident about your abilities, you must surround yourself with people who understand your challenges and can help alleviate feelings of inferiority. From advisors to benevolent critics, this group can include people from various industries and even those at different levels in their careers. You can not only learn but also seek advice from such people. These people will also be your biggest cheerleaders and, at times, might also pull you back from the ledge.  

Active Participation  

Participating in new projects, brainstorming sessions, or meetings can change others' perceptions of you and make a difference in how we look at ourselves. Speak up for yourself even if you do not feel like it because once you start finding your voice, your confidence will grow, and others will notice that you have opinions. Consequently, it will also become easier for you to speak up about your achievements, celebrate others' accomplishments, and ultimately challenge the status quo.  

Read Also: How Women Can Find and Own their Voice

Stop Defining Confidence  

Confidence is a relative concept and may differ from person to person. Therefore, everyone has a different definition of confidence. However, most of us fail to understand this and try to evaluate others using the same yardstick. This gap in our understanding causes many problems for everyone, especially for women struggling with confidence issues in the workplace. It is essential for women and men to stay true to themselves. You will always exhibit confidence if you are comfortable with yourself and your abilities.  

Acknowledge People for Their Abilities  

People may underperform if they lack confidence, but that does not lessen their skill or talent. Instead of analyzing someone's confidence levels, we must focus on their skill set.

There are seminars and workshops that aim to improve the confidence levels of women and self-help groups that help women overcome their reservations, but all of them are missing the point. If we start assessing men and women on their abilities and contributions instead of their characteristics, we are creating a leveled field or larger proportions.   

Accept Diversity  

Finally, every office or workplace must adopt policies that eliminate discriminatory practices such as unfair pay gaps. It is high time that organizations understand that if everyone starts to act and think the same way, there is no room for creativity. Hence they must start encouraging diversity at work and celebrating inclusivity. Different kinds of thoughts and styles must be embraced, especially at the top level.  

End Thoughts 

The impact of self-confidence on a woman's ability to flourish at her work can be realized from a statistic provided by a Hewlett-Packard internal report. It says that men who meet only 60% of the requisite qualifications apply for the job while women apply only when they meet 100%.

This is something that must be kept in mind when we hesitate to speak up for ourselves. Stepping out of your comfort zone is like flexing your muscles – the more you do it, the easier it gets. This kind of thinking can also have a ripple effect on the future generation of women who will strive for further equity and equality.