Mastering The Confidence Code
Confidence 101
Confidence, as defined by Claire Shipman, is an active trust in one's abilities built through life experiences and challenges, rather than a static self-esteem; it empowers women to embrace opportunities and make bold decisions, countering the tendency to underestimate their capabilities.
Acknowledge The Confidence Gap
Women often underestimate their abilities and feel they must be fully qualified to apply for jobs, unlike men, who typically apply when only 60% qualified, leading to a confidence gap that affects their career advancement and professional opportunities.
Self-Reflect on Your Journey with Confidence
In writing The Confidence Code, Claire Shipman realized her own lack of confidence stemmed from perfectionism and risk aversion, behaviors common among women, prompting her to encourage others to recognize and overcome their self-imposed limitations in professional settings.
Don’t Ruminate, Rewire
Women are more prone to rumination, which can hinder relaxation and communication, but cognitive behavioral therapy techniques can help shift negative thought patterns and promote action and happiness.
Let Go of Perfectionism
Claire Shipman's research for The Confidence Code reveals that girls learn perfectionism in grade school, striving to please others, while boys are encouraged to take risks and accept failure, leading to differing adult attitudes towards risk-taking and comfort zones.
When in Doubt, Act
While being prepared is valuable, women often fall into the trap of overthinking and waiting for the perfect moment; instead, they should embrace action, accept failure as a learning experience, and take small risks to build confidence and grow.
Speak Up Without Upspeak
Upspeak, characterized by upward inflection at the end of statements, reflects a generational trend among women seeking consensus, but it can undermine authority; raising awareness of this habit can help individuals break free from it.
Embrace Your Intrinsic Strengths
Women can cultivate authentic confidence by embracing their unique styles, shifting focus from individual bravado to collective contributions, and recognizing that confidence manifests differently than the traditional male bravado often emulated in professional settings.
Best Practices for Male Managers to Empower Female Employees
The confidence gap between men and women persists, with male managers often hesitant to address it; to help, they should promote transparency, engage in discussions about the gap, rethink feedback methods, ensure equal participation in meetings, and encourage women to pursue promotions.
We think of confidence as a natural marker of leadership ability, but journalist Claire Shipman reasons that many of us, women especially, are unconsciously trained to avoid speaking up or taking risks. This miscalibration leaves women spinning their wheels, waiting for consensus, and deferring to others, while those around them gain valuable experience through risk-taking.
Learning Objectives
- Recognize how the confidence gap manifests in organizations.
- Learn ways to begin closing the confidence gap by empowering others.
- Let go of perfectionism to build self-confidence.
- Cultivate an action-oriented growth mindset.
- Embrace the different ways men and women display confidence.