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Does confidence matter as much as competence?

“The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance--What Women Should Know” by Claire Shipman and Katty Kay
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Does confidence matter as much as competence?

In their new book “The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance--What Women Should Know,” authors Claire Shipman and Katty Kay explore gender dynamics and confidence.

Evidence shows that men are more self-assured than women, and the dichotomy has negative effects on female success. Shipman and Kay found that women, even those at the top of their field, weren’t as confident in their position as one might expect them to be. Women negotiate less often for raises (and for less money when they do), they assess their own performance more critically.

The difference in self-assurance may be responsible for the fact that women don’t seek out promotions, competition, and new opportunities as frequently as their male peers? How can women close the confidence gap and catch up? What is responsible for the disparity, and what can women and men do to fix it?

Guest:

Katty Kay, co-author, “The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance--What Women Should Know” (HarperBusiness, 2014);  Lead anchor, BBC World News America