2018 Issue

66 I n 2014, the Utah Women & Leadership Project team collected data from various sources to understand some of the issues in Utah regarding women, confidence, and leadership. Why does this matter? Utah consistently ranks at or near the bottom of national studies on the status of women. For example, in 2013, the Center for American Progress released a report titled “The State of Women in America: A 50-State Analysis of How Women Are Faring Across the Nation.” 1 This report ranked Utah last of all 50 states in terms of women holding positions of decision making and leadership. The purpose of this brief is to report the findings of data collected from Utah women leaders on the following questions: 1. Why does Utah struggle with getting more women into leadership roles? 2. What do you think about Utah women, leadership, and confidence? 3. What confidence concepts or findings most deeply resonated with you? Why? 4. When have you struggled most in your life with confi- dence? What would have helped you? 5. What can we do to help more girls and women in Utah have more confidence and become leaders? Data were collected from three sources. First, questions were posted on the Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) LinkedIn site. 2 The resulting discussion was cap- tured and themes extrapolated from individual responses. Second, notes were taken from table discussions after the September 23, 2014 event at Utah Valley University (UVU) ti- tled, “The Confidence Crisis for Girls and Women.” 3 Finally, a follow-up survey was sent to everyone registered for this event (approximately 400 women), and 78 individuals com- pleted it. It is important to note that all data were collected from individuals who are interested in the topic and at least somewhat proactive in thinking about how to help girls and women gain confidence, voice, and leadership skills. Utah’s Struggle with Women in Leadership The first question posted on the UWLP LinkedIn group during the summer of 2014 was “Why does Utah struggle with getting more women into leadership roles?” There were approximately 60 responses to the post, and we categorized comments into five primary themes: personal challenges, lack of education, work-life, lack of support, and workplace challenges. Confidence Concepts One of the questions asked at the table dialogues after the September 23rd event was, “What confidence concepts or findings most deeply resonated with you? Why?” The ques- tion also appeared on the follow-up survey. In combining both data sources, the following is a summary (in rank order of the most commonly mentioned) of the nine concepts attendees felt were most helpful and empowering for them to consider. These can be useful in designing future confi- dence and leadership programs and initiatives: 1. Confidence and Related Terms. “Acting” and “doing” build confidence. We need to “act” to make a differ- ence and to be effective leaders. 2. Gender Confidence Gap. Understanding gender differences with confidence is very helpful, particu- larly biological differences between men and women (e.g., brain and hormones) and how women think and reason through success and failure. 3. Perfectionism. Understanding the dark side of perfec- tionism for women was powerful; perfectionism is a confidence killer. 4. Failure. It is okay to fail; failing actually allows us to learn and grow. 5. Mentors and Role Models. Mentors and role models (e.g., parents, church leaders, teachers, and relatives) can have a major impact in the lives of girls and women. 6. Speaking Up. It is important that women speak up more in meetings and other situations that are typical- ly dominated by men. 7. Communication Habits. It is helpful to understand the differences between men and women in terms of communication habits. This includes what women say to other women; Utah women can be judgmental and hurtful to each other. 8. Rumination. Women spend far too much time over- thinking or ruminating. We dwell on problems rather than solutions and focus too much on why we did certain things, how poorly we did them, and what everyone else was thinking about it. 9. Confidence Is a Choice. A great deal of building confidence is simply a matter of changing one’s as- sumptions and perspectives. Confidence is a choice, and, therefore, lack of confidence is also a choice. This knowledge helps us to reflect on the choices we are making and set goals to make choices that will increase our confidence, sphere of influence, and lead- ership aptitudes. Women, Confidence, and Leadership: What Do Utah Women Leaders Think? Author, Susan R. Madsen (Orin R. Woodbury Professor of Leadership & Ethics, Utah Valley University, madsensu@uvu.edu) . Excerpted from a Research and Policy Brief published February 23, 2015 (see https://www.uvu.edu/uwlp/docs/uwlpbrief2015no6.pdf for entire original brief).