#73 Go for it

Go for it

Have you ever stayed silent in a meeting or held back from applying for a job because you doubted yourself?

According to Professor Katherine Coffman, while under confidence is common among people, research shows that women tend to be more risk averse and less self-assured.  Women “come forward” less than men, especially in stereotypically male domains such as business, science, or as shared in this podcast, even surfing!

This under confidence impacts women’s career growth and prevents employers from benefiting fully from their ideas and skills.

So, what can be done?

At an organizational level, employers and managers can proactively seek ideas and encourage applications from women and other underrepresented groups. 

And if you feel you should put yourself out there more:

Gather more information when you feel uncertain about an issue, application or contract negotiation

Ask advice from a diverse network of people – you can’t “over ask!”