What is the Imposter Syndrome really costing you?
Caroline Holt
Helping women within Wealth/Finance/STEM overcome Imposter Syndrome, release their full potential and have greater impact/fulfilment. Coach | Speaker | Confidence | Diversity | Gender
What is self doubt and low self esteem really costing you? Not just to your health and happiness but also to your bank balance?
A report by Hewlett Packard discovered that men within their organisation apply for a job or promotion when they meet only 60% of the required criteria. Women only put themselves forward if they can meet 100% of them.
I've heard this time and time again within large corporates. Men are eager but not ready to step up so have to be held back; women are ready but not eager so have to be pushed forward.
How the Imposter Syndrome limits women
It isn’t that men don’t have self-doubt. It’s just that they don't let their doubts stop them as much as women do. As a result, women who hold back lose out on promotion opportunities and chances to expand their experience, skills and knowledge. All of which can have an impact on their earning potential.
We are currently enrolling women from the finance sector into one of my leadership programmes. The programme helps women to step free of self-doubt and other limiting ways of thinking and develop the attitudes, behaviours and skills that enable them to realise their full potential and do success in ways that work for them.
I had an email today from someone working with me on this project. He’s been reaching out to women interested in joining the programme. He wrote: “I’m finding that a number of women on the prospect list don’t have the confidence to ask for funding. I don’t understand it.”
I do!
It's time to stop underestimating your worth
When women believe they don’t deserve their success and are “imposters” who could be found out at any moment, they can’t see the value they bring. Consequentially, they don’t have the confidence to negotiate a pay rise, go for a promotion - or, even request funding to invest in themselves!
Why would they – they don't believe they are worth it.
As Apoorve Dubey summed up: “The price tag you put on yourself decides your worth. Under-estimating yourself will cost you dearly.”
The good news is that it doesn't have to be that way. Under valuing yourself is a learned behaviour and, as such, it can be unlearned.
If you want to know how, please get in touch - [email protected].