The confidence gap is a pervasive issue that affects women at all levels of leadership. It refers to the idea that women have more self-doubt about their careers, feel less prepared for promotions than men, and underestimate their abilities, even though their skills are equal. 

The traditionally held view is that this lack of confidence prevents women from reaching the top, as fear gets in the way.  However, recent research challenges the notion that women lack confidence, suggesting that women feel just as confident in their abilities and leadership skills as their male peers. Therefore, the confidence gap may be more of a myth than a reality. 

To level the playing field, a more accurate approach is needed, one that takes into account the double bind that women face, where they must simultaneously appear both confident and modest. Confidence is not equally rewarded for men and women in the professional world, and women can face consequences for showing too much confidence because it goes against binary gender norms. Therefore, it's crucial to address the backlash effect and create a culture that rewards and encourages women to self-promote and take bigger risks.

Listen to this 2-part series where I debunk the confidence myth in Episode 003 and then walk you through the exact steps to take to close the gap in Episode 004.

Full Transcript and Show Notes:
https://crystalfrazee.com/podcast/the-confidence-myth/

Highlights:
[00:01:55] The Confidence Myth.
[00:06:23] Confidence gap in genders.
[00:10:14] The Confidence Gap Theory.
[00:11:53] Gender Discrepancy in Management.
[00:15:37] Gender norms and confidence.
[00:20:21] A solution exists.

Mentioned in this Episode: 

• Correction, Crystal should have said 1996 Olympics instead of 1998 Olympics
• Listen to Part 2 of this series at Episode 004 Backlash Navigation 101: The Key to Closing the Confidence Gap

Register for Crystal's Free Virtual Training - The Well for Women Leaders
June 6th 12:00-1:00 pm EST. It will be experiential learning plus Q&A on how to use Body Wisdom to feel more grounded and elevate your presence, communication, resilience, and impact.

Connect with Crystal Online:
Crystal's Website
Crystal's LinkedIn
Crystal's Instagram
Crystal's TikTok

FREE Leadership Resources from Crystal:

• Free Short Audio Training: How to Run Your Day Without It Running You
• Free PDF Training: Stress & Overwhelm Relief Game Plan

Get updates about Crystal's upcoming book! REVIVE: The Working Woman's Unexpected Guide to Recovering from Burnout