Overconfidence dictates who gets 'top jobs,' and research shows men benefit more than women

Men are more likely to assess their abilities favorably and communicate this to others. And since overconfident people may put themselves forward more often and sooner for promotions, this exacerbates the gender gap in top jobs. Requiring women to "lean in" or engage in confidence-building interventions is not the solution. Focusing on imposter syndrome or women being under confident puts the onus on them to change. Instead, we all need to find ways to change the system. A potential solution - employers should rethink how they recruit and promote people. Employers could give more regular performance-based feedback and encourage women to apply for promotions sooner than they might choose to on their own.

Credit: Phys.org

Date: 2023