3 Truths About Reclaiming Confidence Women Need to Know Right Now

March is Women's History Month and guess what?  Women around the world, no matter how accomplished they may be, are facing a very real 'Gender Confidence Gap'.

A study by Cornell University found that men overestimated their abilities and their performance, however, women underestimated both. In addition, research outlined in Katy Kay and Claire Shipman's book - The Confidence Code, supports the reality that a Gender Confidence Gap, really is a thing!

Not everyone is going to get everything right. Sadly, there’s always someone quick to point out when you’re getting it wrong. It’s when you come under fire that you lose confidence quickly. 

To get past this kind of blow to our confidence, you need to understand these simple truths:

Not Everyone Has It Right. Not Even You

Haters are going to hate. But just because someone comes at you with the most reasonable-sounding explanation in the world of why you’re an idiot (and you’re an expert at giving that speech to yourself), the truth is, the person doing the talking quite likely doesn’t know what they’re talking about. This is because of one simple truth: People really don’t know everything, and even when they think they do, they have a tendency to get things wrong. So just because something nasty has been said, it doesn’t make it right. Regardless of who it’s coming from.

 

A Lot of Criticism is Grounded in Jealousy

That disaster you’re beating yourself up over? How much of it was the result of the green-eyed monster? Too often, we give people authority over us they don’t deserve. We listen to their complaints thinking they’re right without questioning why they’re attacking what you’re doing. The biggest culprit of why you’ve drawn the attention of the critics is jealousy. Don’t let someone pull down your confidence just because they’re feeling threatened by where you are. 

 

You’re Better Than You Think

The loss of confidence can make you the critic. Why? Because now you’re looking for justification for thinking you’re no good. And trust me, when you go hunting for this kind of justification, you’ll always find it. Here’s where you need to back up and take a good, hard, impartial look at yourself. Ask:

• Is This Thought Really True? 

For example, you might be thinking, “I fail at everything I do.” Is this realistic? Probably not.

 

• If This Thought Isn’t True, What Emotion is it Coming From?

The most likely explanation? A lot of negative emotions come from fear. In the previous example, you might be afraid of failing, so by convincing yourself you’re a failure already, you no longer have to try.

 

• What’s a Truer Statement I Might Make Instead?

Try rewording the thought and keep it honest. ‘I’m afraid of failing, but since I’ve succeeded in the past, there’s good reason to think I will succeed now.”

 

Confidence comes from accepting the reality of who you are and where you are. Remember, nobody, not even you, has a right to make you feel small. 

 

So, ask yourself, during the month of March what will you do to close your own Gender Confidence Gap or support a woman you know to do so? 

I can't wait to hear your stories of how you plan to 'Mind The Confidence Gap'.

If your confidence level is not where it needs to be and you've tried everything you know to do and not much has changed, schedule a call with me Let's Talk today to explore how I can help you close the gap! 

Mind The Gap Now

Happy Women's History Month!!

Lorraine

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