"We work with high-achieving, talented women every day. These are women with strong track records, clear goals, and an enormous amount to offer. And still, many of them hold back. They hold back from speaking in meetings, even when they have valuable insight to share They delay applying for promotions or new roles, waiting to meet every single criteria They hesitate to lead visibly, fearing judgment or criticism They question whether they are ready, even after years of experience and demonstrated capability."
"These behaviours are not signs of weakness but patterns of protection. They develop in response to navigating systems that have historically overlooked, underestimated, or penalised women for being visible and powerful. Understanding that this dynamic is not personal but systemic is the first step to changing it. The 3 Most Common Reasons Women Hesitate We consistently see the same three themes behind"
High-achieving women frequently hold back at work despite strong track records and demonstrated capability. Holding back appears as reluctance to speak in meetings, delaying applications for promotions, hesitating to lead visibly, and chronic second-guessing when facing new opportunities. The root causes are systemic conditioning, perfectionism, and internalised doubt rather than actual lack of skill. These behaviours function as protective patterns formed in environments that have historically overlooked, underestimated, or penalised visible female leadership. Building confidence involves taking aligned action, practising values-based leadership, and redefining readiness rather than waiting for perfection.
Read at Psychology Today
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]