Closing the confidence gap
Catherine Allison
Presentation & Communication Skills Trainer for Agencies and Creative-Minded Businesses | Actor | Speaker | DBA Expert
Every week the same question crops up. A highly intelligent woman with bucket loads of experience in her field will ask:
“How can I get my voice heard in my agency? How can I put forward my point of view confidently and concisely, especially when faced with senior male colleagues and clients?”
Every week I meet women who lack the confidence to speak up, challenge their clients or colleagues and get their point of view across. They tell me they constantly question their ability. They allow their senior male colleagues to lead meetings, take credit for their hard work and who consequently rise through the agency ranks at a faster pace.
Of course this isn’t the case for all women working in agencies, but these questions still crop up so frequently that it rankles. And yet, I get it. I really get it. I know what it’s like to be one of the only senior women in an agency. To be surrounded by men who seemingly only listen to each other. To be told, “You can have an opinion, Catherine, but no-one’s going to listen.” To secure a significant new business meeting, re-arrange my childcare so I could attend, only to be told at the last minute that I was on meet and greet duty only and could I please make the tea. (Yes, I let that happen).
As each year rolls by, and once again we celebrate International Women’s Day, I hope that soon, very soon, more women will start to believe in their own abilities and have the confidence to speak with greater presence and gravitas in the agency environment.
Come on ladies. We’ve got this. #pressforprogress
If you want to increase your presence and gravitas when dealing with clients and within your agency, I’m running a half day training session on 22nd March. More details and booking info can be found here:
Founder of Command+F | Marketing Foundations & Executive coaching
6 年I see this all the time too! And like you, it surprises me that it's still so common and yet I've also been there. What's amazing though is that now people are willing to talk about it and take action. Well done for addressing this and for providing a much-needed solution!
Trusted advisor to agency leaders on HR strategy & people led initiatives to deliver business goals & happy teams
6 年Thanks Catherine some great points in here that I'm sure lots of people will resonate with. I encourage you to sign up to this if you want to make a change and see your career grow with the help of Catherine who knows the challenges you are facing. As an aside, my mantra for today is be grateful for what you have and make one change that is going to make a difference.