EXPERT’SVIEW
Closing the Confidence Gap the industry’s most successful women push aside fear and step up
W
omen in convenience need two things to achieve a leadership position: confidence in themselves and, more important, confidence they have a path to leadership in their organization. While women graduate from college feeling as qualified for success as their By Joan toth, male peers, their aspiration level drops Network of more than 60 percent over time, accordExecutive Women ing to the Bain & Co. report “Everyday Moments of Truth.” While women lose confidence in their careers soon after entering the workforce, the confidence level of men remains constant. After two or more years of experience, 34 percent of men are still aiming for the top, while only 16 percent of women are. Why do female college graduates quickly lose confidence in their career potential? Bain attributed the confidence gap to three main factors: little supervisory support, too few role models in senior-level positons and the widespread perception among men and women that “ideal workers” put in long hours and are adept at self-promotion, networking and maintaining a high profile. Organizations that address these workplace challenges are able to leverage the power of women’s leadership and the talents, skills and leadership potential of every employee. That’s a huge competitive advantage. Making the Leap
Transforming our workplace culture is essential to having more inclusive leadership, but change won’t come fast and it won’t come easy. To succeed in today’s environment, women need to believe in themselves, find their own role models and create their own paths to success. A KPMG survey of more than 3,000 women found their perception of their own leadership skills — and the seeds of self-doubt — are planted in childhood. While nearly nine in 10 survey respondents said they were taught to be nice to others, only one-third were
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encouraged to share their point-of-view. At the Network of Executive Women (NEW) Leadership Summit last fall, more than 1,200 Network members were inspired by women executives who overcame such doubts to become powerful and effective leaders. These high-powered women worked through their fears, sought the help of mentors and sponsors, and took on stretch assignments that broadened their skills and built their profile. During a Summit panel discussion, Kathy Russello, executive vice president, human resources for Ahold USA, shared how early in her career she was hesitant to take on a new role outside her area of expertise. She was given responsibility for labor relations strategy, which included negotiating with mostly male union officials. “I went into that role with a great deal of concern. I wasn’t sure I could do it,” she said. “But it’s the role I learned the most from.”
Convenience Store News is pleased to continue this series of exclusive educational columns by the Network of Executive Women (NEW), leading up to the 2016 CSNews Top Women in Convenience awards this fall. In addition to being a presentation sponsor for the Top Women in Convenience program, NEW and CSNews have partnered to develop this series of columns directed at helping corporate leaders drive more inclusive company cultures. SPONSORED BY: