Why do women struggle with self doubt?
With more than 90% of Britain’s top boardroom jobs occupied by men, its plain to see that women are outnumbered. So what is it holding them back?
According to research, many women suffer from something known as impostor syndrome. We feel as though we are not good enough for our jobs and that we don’t deserve our success. Although women are more honest than men about sharing their feeling in the workplace, unfortunately our openness can often backfire. It is also common that women are reluctant to boast about their personal life.
The executive coach Peninah Thomson noticed that she sees far less confidence in the women she coaches than the men. “ One women I was coaching actually said to me, I don’t want to act like I am the great I am. If that’s what I’ve got to do to get ahead then I don’t want to go there”.
Janet Street Porter is a very successful businesswoman, but even she said she was guilty of letting her low self-esteem and self-belief get the better of her. She explained that even if women start out with confidence, many will have that beaten out of them as they struggle to be taken seriously. When women are opinionated about how a company should be run, they are described as aggressive, whereas when it’s a man, he is seen as forceful and focussed.
Can a women’s inability to climb to the top really just be down to a lack of self-belief? Well it certainly isn’t because they are less qualified or less capable. I think it is a credit to women that they are reluctant to step on each other’s toes or blow their own trumpets to get to the top. However, they must be able to strike a balance and achieve goals in a way makes them feel comfortable. The first step of which is believing in themselves and believing they are just as good and just as worthy in their job roles as men…if not more so. See you at the top ladies!