Research Shows Women Need Confidence To Advance—Here’s How To Get It

Core Insights - Women's representation in leadership roles remains low, with fewer than 10% of S&P 500 companies led by female CEOs and only 26% of U.S. Senate seats held by women [3] - Research indicates that women tend to wait until they have more experience before applying for higher leadership positions, contributing to the gender gap in ambition [5][6] Research Findings - A study analyzed nearly a century of U.S. political data, revealing that men in feeder roles were more likely to run for higher offices after only a few years compared to women [4] - The gender gap in ambition diminishes as women's experience increases, disappearing after they have served between eight and nine years in office [5] - A second study showed that women with three years of experience were less likely to apply for a department head position compared to men, but this gap closed when women had twelve years of experience [6] Recommendations for Women - Awareness of the gender gap in ambition is crucial for women seeking higher positions, as understanding this pattern can motivate them to apply [8] - Women are encouraged to seek honest feedback from mentors or colleagues to challenge assumptions about their readiness for new roles [9] - Accumulating experience and tracking achievements can help women build confidence and visibility in their careers [10] Organizational Strategies - Organizations should consider all qualified employees for open roles and create lower-stakes opportunities for skill development [10] - Providing short-term or project-based leadership roles can help employees gain experience without the pressure of formal applications [10] - Fostering an environment that builds confidence and ambition through experience can help close the gender gap in leadership [11]