The Confidence Myth Why Women Undervalue Their Skills, and How to Get Over It

Not only do we need more female leaders at the top, but we need more women at all levels of business, government, and nonprofits to step up—there’s no time to waste. The problem, says Helene Lerner, isn’t so much that women lack confidence but that they misunderstand what confidence really is.

True confidence isn’t fearlessness; it’s having the courage to jump in even when your knees are shaking. Any woman who waits until she feels 100 percent confident before offering a big idea or asking for a raise or promotion will never get anywhere. Drawing on her own and other female leaders’ experiences, as well as on her survey of over 500 working women, Lerner lays out practical strategies for beating this confidence myth and overcoming obstacles like gender bias. The book features dozens of Confidence Sparks, simple but powerful exercises and techniques that can catapult anyone’s career to the next level.

Helene Lerner is the CEO of Creative Expansions Inc. and the founder of WomenWorking.com. She is also an Emmy-winning executive producer, an independent public television host, a Fortune 500 workplace consultant, and the author of twelve books. Lerner has produced more than twenty televised specials and received American Public Television’s MVP Award for her outstanding contributions to public television.

INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1: Transform fear by stepping up
CHAPTER 2: Lead with presence
CHAPTER 3: Win with honest feedback
CHAPTER 4: Create power parameters
CHAPTER 5: Stand out and attract sponsors
CHAPTER 6: Trust your inner compass
CONCLUSION
Resources:
1. 30 Days of Confidence Sparks
2. Women and Confidence Survey: Methodology and Results
Notes