According to the Dove self-esteem research report, seven in ten girls think they are not good enough! This belief seems to translate into our adult lives as well. A 2019 research found that 79% of women at work lack confidence.
But why do women doubt themselves? And, what can they do to boost their self-esteem?
Before answering these questions, we need to understand what confidence is.
Most people associate confidence with personality or nature. While there is some link between them, self-assurance is still more of a mindset than anything else! It is a belief that we have in ourselves and our abilities! Understanding the underlying causes of our self-doubt can help us cultivate self-confidence.
According to a Cornell University study, most men overestimate their potential and performance while women underestimate both. Most women believe they don’t deserve their position and feel like imposters. They worry more about how they are perceived. They don’t want to be disliked or outshine others.
Men are not exempted from these doubts; however, they are better at looking past them. An internal report from Hewlett Packard found that men apply for a job or promotion even when they only meet 60% of the requirements, whereas women apply only if they meet 100% of the requirements. Women lose opportunities not because they are not as capable but because they are more cautious about taking risks.
Unfortunately, there are no well-defined steps or any magic pill that could make our doubts vanish or boost our self-assurance. However, here are some suggestions that could help us overcome our fears and promote higher self-esteem:
“Good enough” is good enough
Women tend to put unnecessary pressure on themselves when applying for a job or a promotion opportunity. Your standards for your mastery of any given task need to be realistic above all else. If you feel like you are good enough at your job, then that is truly enough for you to believe in yourself. Perfectionism will only hold you back.
Times have changed and so should the norms
If you are a working woman then there is going to be a trade-off with your personal life as a friend/mother/wife/partner. You need to accept this trade-off and embrace it if you want to excel in your professional life. You should not feel a sense of guilt or feel you are letting your loved ones down in any way by focusing on your work.
Don’t give your inner critic too much power
We all find ourselves listening to that voice inside our head telling us to not take risks and calling us out on our audacity. This is the voice of your inner critic. Don’t let this self-doubt stop you from taking chances. Show compassion towards yourself. Believe that you are doing your best and that is good enough.
At its core, self-confidence is an act of self-love that all women deserve. How you perceive yourself and your abilities manifest in all aspects of your life. Self-assurance is not inherited; it’s a gift that you can give yourself to thrive in life.
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