When it comes to confidence, women often find themselves at a disadvantage. In the workplace, they are less likely to be promoted and earn less money than their male counterparts. This is largely due to the way that confidence is perceived and used against women.

The article discusses three ways in which confidence is used against women: through social conditioning, through the power dynamic and through self-doubt. Social conditioning is the way that we are taught from a young age to view men and women differently. We are taught that men are strong and competent while women are gentle and nurturing. This can lead to women being seen as less confident than men, even if they have the same skills and abilities.

The power dynamic is another way in which confidence can be used against women. Women may be hesitant to speak up in meetings or take on new challenges for fear of looking incompetent or being laughed at. This can lead to them being passed over for promotions or opportunities. Finally, self-doubt can also play a role in undermining a woman’s confidence. Women are often their own worst critics and can doubt their abilities even when they have evidence to support them.

So what can managers do to help? First, it is important to be aware of the factors that influence confidence levels. Second, managers should create an environment where employees feel comfortable speaking up and taking risks. This includes setting a positive example yourself and providing feedback that encourages growth rather than putting people down. Finally, managers should make sure that everyone in the organisation feels valued and respected, regardless of gender.

This article provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by women in business. It is well-written and easy to understand. It can help managers understand why some women might not seem confident in the workplace. It’s also important to understand how confidence can be weaponised so that we can help to prevent it from happening.

Find out more in the original article here: https://hbr.org/2022/10/how-confidence-is-weaponized-against-women

This article summary was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer, success coach and people skills expert. She helps managers and business owners build thriving teams and organisations, using tools from Positive Psychology. She's trained more than 60,000 people during her career as a corporate trainer and professional development consultant. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference.