There is an unconscious bias that men lead and women nurture. It’s okay for men to be ambitious, assertive, self-confident. Those same qualities in women are labeled aggressive, self-promoting. Women are expected to be unselfish, caring, emotionally expressive and interpersonally sensitive. Male executives who speak more often than their peers are deemed more competent by 10%. Female executives who speak up are deemed less competent by 14%. When it comes to the workplace, women speak less, are interrupted more and have their ideas more harshly scrutinized. Women have to walk a precarious tightrope, it’s often easier to say nothing at all than be judged. They hold back, become less engaged. What can you do about this as a woman? Speak authoritatively, without apologies. Create a buddy system with colleagues and ask them to back you up in meetings when they agree with your ideas. Women need allies. And if you see this interrupting happening, speak up. Hey, I think you interrupted her before she finished. 

 

 

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