The Confidence Gap: Why Competent Women Still Feel "Unready" for Promotion

The Confidence Gap: Why Competent Women Still Feel "Unready" for Promotion

As I sat across from my friend, Ayesha, in a small café in Lahore, I couldn't help but notice the frustration in her eyes. She was a high-achieving marketing manager at a top firm, with a string of successes under her belt. Yet, when I asked her if she was ready to take on a more senior role, she hesitated. "I don't know, Sophia. I feel like I'm not experienced enough. What if I fail?" she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

This conversation struck a chord with me. I've seen countless women like Ayesha, who are more than qualified for a promotion, yet they hold back due to self-doubt. Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet 60% of the criteria, while women wait until they meet 100%. This confidence gap is a major obstacle to women's career advancement, and it's time we addressed it.

The reality is that women are often socialized to be perfectionists. We're taught to prioritize others' needs over our own, to be humble, and to avoid taking risks. These traits can be beneficial in many areas of life, but they can also hold us back in our careers. The expectation to be perfect can lead to an excessive need for control and a fear of failure. This fear can be especially crippling in Pakistan, where the pressure to maintain a good reputation and avoid "log kya kahenge" (what people will say) can be overwhelming.

In our culture, women are often expected to prioritize family obligations over personal ambitions. The joint family system can be both a blessing and a curse, providing a strong support network but also creating unrealistic expectations. Women are often expected to be the primary caregivers, managing the household and raising children, while also pursuing a career. This can lead to feelings of guilt and inadequacy, making it even harder for women to take the leap and apply for promotions.

Breaking Free from Self-Doubt

So, how can women overcome this confidence gap and start applying for roles that match their skills and ambitions? Here are some actionable steps:

Reframe Your Thinking

Start by recognizing that your worth and abilities are not defined by your job title or salary. You are more than your profession. Focus on your strengths, skills, and accomplishments, and remind yourself that you have a lot to offer.

Build a Support Network

Surround yourself with people who believe in you and your potential. This could be a mentor, a colleague, or a friend who encourages you to take risks and pursue your goals.

Develop a Growth Mindset

View challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth and learning. Remember that failure is not the end of the world, but rather a stepping stone to success.

Meet Zara, a successful entrepreneur who overcame her own confidence gap to launch a thriving business. Despite facing numerous setbacks and rejections, Zara persisted, using each failure as a chance to learn and improve. Today, she is a role model for many young women in Pakistan, proof that with determination and hard work, anything is possible.

Create a Personal Brand

Develop a strong online presence, including a professional LinkedIn profile and a personal website or blog. This will help you establish yourself as an expert in your field and increase your visibility to potential employers.

Practice Self-Care

Take care of your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Exercise regularly, eat healthy, and get enough sleep. This will help you stay energized and focused, and better equipped to handle the demands of a challenging career.

💡 Quick Win: Update Your LinkedIn Profile Today

Take 30 minutes today to update your LinkedIn profile. Make sure your profile picture is professional, your summary is concise and compelling, and your experience section is up-to-date. This simple step can help you increase your visibility and start building your personal brand.

As Ayesha and I finished our conversation, I could see the determination in her eyes. She realized that she didn't have to be perfect to be worthy of a promotion. She didn't have to wait until she met 100% of the criteria. She could start applying for roles that matched her skills and ambitions, and trust that she would learn and grow along the way.

In Pakistan, where inflation and load shedding can be overwhelming, it's easy to get caught up in the daily struggles and forget about our long-term goals. But it's precisely in these moments that we need to remind ourselves of our worth and our potential. We need to support each other, lift each other up, and encourage each other to take the leap. So, let's make a pact to ourselves and to each other: let's start applying for those roles, let's start pursuing our passions, and let's start believing in ourselves. We are capable of achieving great things, and it's time we started recognizing our own worth.