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    Women leaders empowerment

    Brain Circuits

    Outdated myths shouldn’t hold women back 

    by Ginka Toegel Published March 14, 2024 in Brain Circuits • 4 min read

    Here are four myths and three remedies to help women achieve more at work

    There are some societal misperceptions about women that need to be corrected. The problem with these misperceptions is that they put the onus entirely on women to fix themselves without considering whether systemic bias in the workplace and societal misperceptions might be holding them back. Here are four I’d like to tackle:
    As more women take up leadership positions, the generalization that we lack confidence is cracking. And yet, as old stereotypes are challenged by new realities, some crucial misperceptions remain concerning the appearance of a lack of confidence. Addressing those could unlock potential for the good of all.
    As more women take up leadership positions, the generalization that they lack confidence is cracking. And yet, as old stereotypes are challenged by new realities, some crucial misperceptions remain concerning the appearance of a lack of confidence. Addressing those could unlock potential for the good of all

    Myth 1: Women lack confidence

    I don’t believe that women lack the confidence to succeed in business. Instead, women seem to be more likely than men to think that others have lower confidence in their abilities, as I explored in a previous article.

    Myth 2: Women don’t ask for pay rises

    Research published in Academy of Management Discoveries found that, despite persistent stereotypes, women are actually more likely to negotiate their salaries than men.

    Myth 3: Women aren’t demonstrating that they deserve to be promoted

    Research shows that men are promoted for leadership potential while women are promoted for performance. This is because managers tend to consistently underestimate women’s leadership potential.

    Myth 4: Women tend to suffer from “imposter syndrome”

    It’s perfectly normal, and in fact quite healthy, to have some doubts or mild anxiety before starting a new role, for example. After all, this is what makes us human. By pathologizing it as a “syndrome” that is more likely to affect women, we are once again suggesting that women need to be fixed. By continuing to perpetuate these myths, the danger is that they become self-fulfilling. 

    “In politics, If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.”
    - Margaret Thatcher

    Here’s a quick list of three remedies to start tackling gendered misconceptions and take the onus off women alone:

    Remedy 1. Evaluate candidates in groups rather than one by one

    To reduce implicit or unconscious gender bias in hiring and promotion decisions, evaluate the merits of two or more applicants at the same time rather than assessing them one by one. Joint evaluations tend to compare candidates based on performance rather than any implicit gender basis.

    Remedy 2. Conduct internal audits on pay 

    With pressure for equal pay continuing to grow, there are now a number of non-profit organizations, such as the Equal Salary Foundation, that provide a certification process enabling companies to verify and communicate that they pay their male and female employees equally for the same job or for the same value. 

    Remedy 3. Introduce mentoring programs for women 

    Research has found that 62% of men had a mentor at the CEO or senior executive level compared to 52% of women.  

    It’s time to take a closer look at how to overhaul workplace practices to correct the misconceptions that are holding women back from achieving all we can. 

    Further reading: 

    Fix the system, not the women

    Unlocking confidence: strategies to help women thrive as leaders 

    Authors

    Ginka Toegel - IMD Professor

    Ginka Toegel

    Professor of Organizational Behavior and Leadership at IMD

    Ginka Toegel is a teacher, facilitator, and researcher in the areas of leadership and human behavior. Specialized in providing one-to-one leadership coaching and team-building workshops to top management teams in both the public and private sector, her major research focuses on leadership development, team dynamics, and coaching. She is also Director of the Strategies for Leadership program and the Mobilizing People program.

    Related

    How to create a skills-powered organization  

    January 27, 2026 in Brain Circuits

    As Standard Chartered’s Chief Strategy and Talent Officer, Tanuj Kapilashrami, oversaw a fundamental workforce transformation from a jobs-based to a skills-powered model. Here she shares five key steps to make the transition....

    Further reading: 

    Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman 

    Authors

    Ginka Toegel - IMD Professor

    Ginka Toegel

    Professor of Organizational Behavior and Leadership at IMD

    Ginka Toegel is a teacher, facilitator, and researcher in the areas of leadership and human behavior. Specialized in providing one-to-one leadership coaching and team-building workshops to top management teams in both the public and private sector, her major research focuses on leadership development, team dynamics, and coaching. She is also Director of the Strategies for Leadership program and the Mobilizing People program.

    Related

    How to create a skills-powered organization  

    January 27, 2026 in Brain Circuits

    As Standard Chartered’s Chief Strategy and Talent Officer, Tanuj Kapilashrami, oversaw a fundamental workforce transformation from a jobs-based to a skills-powered model. Here she shares five key steps to make the transition....

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