Just how confident do you feel when it comes to your work? Chances are not very, with studies finding 50 percent of women report feelings of self-doubt about their performance and careers and it's costing us dearly.
"Confidence is what turns our thoughts into actions," explained Katty Kay, co-author of the best-selling book The Confidence Gap , when we recorded this podcast about practical strategies to help women thrive at work.
Confidence isn't simply feeling good about yourself or saying you're great -- perfect just as you are -- and believing you can do whatever you want. Nor does it require you to be a jerk who has to always speak first, ignores other people's ideas or demands you be given what you deserve.
Rather, confidence is what allows you to start acting and risking and failing, to stop mumbling and apologizing and hesitating. With it you can take on the world; without it you remain stuck on the starting block of your own potential.
Confidence is what allows our male colleagues to willingly risk their careers on new challenges, confidently ask for more money and gamely put themselves forward for promotions even when they're not quite ready.
The lack of confidence is also the reason women ask four times less frequently for pay rises, negotiate salaries of 30 percent less and won't put themselves forward for promotions unless they meet 100 percent of the qualifications necessary for the job.
"It turns out confidence matters more to our success than competence does," said Kay. "If you choose not to act, you have less chance of success."
Unfortunately, the gender confidence gap is a chasm, found stretching across professions, income levels and generations, showing up in many guises and in places where you least expect it. And while our genetics, our schooling, our upbringing, our society and even the way we look are all factors that affect our confidence, it's also a result of our own choices.
As a result, Kay believes women can improve their level of confidence through three simple steps:
- Take action: Nothing builds confidence like taking action, especially when the action involves risk and failure. So step outside your comfort zone and if the very idea feels overwhelming, focus on how your actions can benefit others to kick-start your confidence. Start with small challenges that allow you to grow, improve and gain confidence. If you fail, think about how you can do it differently next time and try again. If you succeed, set yourself the next challenge and keep stretching yourself forward again and again.
To find out how confident you really are take the free survey at the www.theconfidencecode.com.
This article first appeared on womensagenda.com.au.