Confidence Strategies for Women in Fast-Paced Environments

“I knew my stuff and I still got talked over.” The brutally honest truth about what it takes for women to command respect in the room. She had the deck. She had the metrics. She had the vision. Five minutes into the pitch, one of the VCs interrupted her. Then another tried to “reframe” her idea like it wasn’t already clear. By the end of the meeting, she had presented everything perfectly But walked out thinking: “Why didn’t they take me seriously?” That’s from someone I connected with right here. ⸻ Here’s the truth I wish someone had told her: Being great isn’t always enough. Especially if you don’t fit the default picture of what a “leader” looks like in that room. If you’ve already heard all the advice— ✔ “Be confident” ✔ “Own your space” ✔ “Know your worth” …yet you still struggle to command respect, it’s not because you’re doing something wrong. But you might be focusing in the wrong places. So here’s what I tell the women I work with: ⸻ ➤ ➤ ➤ 1. Stop Chasing Respect From the Wrong People If someone walks in with baked-in bias, you won’t argue your way into their respect. Don’t give their opinion more weight than it deserves. Seek out allies, not approval. ⸻ ➤ ➤ ➤ 2. Project What You Want Reflected Back Confidence isn’t a personality trait, it’s a practice. Watch how you speak, sit, pause, and pitch. Rehearse. Record. Refine. You don’t need to fake it, but you do need to train it. ⸻ ➤ ➤ ➤ 3. Don’t Borrow Someone Else’s Leadership Style You don’t have to “act like a guy” to lead like a boss. Command respect in a way that’s true to who you are, clear, calm, direct. Conviction is more powerful than volume. ⸻ ➤ ➤ ➤ 4. Use Power Moves (That Don’t Make You a Jerk) If someone cuts you off: “Hold on, I wasn’t finished.” If they go quiet: Let them sit in the silence. Authority is in the micro-behaviors. ⸻ ➤ ➤ ➤ 5. Build a Respect-First Circle If respect isn’t landing in the boardroom, start with one-on-one conversations, early hires, mentors. You get better at commanding respect by practicing where the stakes are lower, then scaling it. ⸻ Here’s the part I want you to remember: You’re not the problem. But you are the solution. If you’ve ever walked out of a room wondering why they didn’t take you seriously, don’t carry that as self-doubt. Carry it as a signal: It’s time to stop asking for respect and start expecting it. 👇 What’s ONE thing you’ve done that helped you go from being heard to being respected? ♻️ If this landed repost your network.

What’s really holding you back? Spoiler alert: It’s not your skills. How many times have you felt like you’re not up for the job? That you’re not qualified? Or that someone else could do it better? Here’s the reality: ➡️ 13% of employees and 20% of senior managers admit they frequently feel like a fraud. ➡️ 54% of women report experiencing imposter syndrome, compared to 38% of men. I get it, because I’ve been there. I used to struggle with being visible - giving speeches, creating content online, even doing TV interviews. Despite decades of experience, there was always a little voice in my head whispering: “Do people really want to hear from you? What if they laugh at you?” Here’s the truth: It’s not based on facts - it’s just the noise in our heads. Here’s how you can overcome imposter syndrome and show up like you deserve to: 1/ The Imposter Loop ↳ You doubt every win and question every achievement. ↳ Own your story: You earned your seat at the table. ↳ Write down three wins you’re proud of. Seeing them silences the noise. 2/ The Permission Trap ↳ You wait to feel ready or for someone to say “go.” ↳ Stop waiting: Start before you’re ready. ↳ Set a deadline and commit publicly - action builds momentum faster than waiting for confidence to strike. 3/ The Comparison Game ↳ You stalk others’ success and compare your chapter 1 to their chapter 20. ↳ Run your own race: Their doubts, fears, and failures aren’t in the highlight reel. ↳ Unfollow or mute accounts that trigger self-doubt. Focus on progress, not perfection. 4/ The Perfectionism Loop ↳ You polish endless drafts, overthink every detail, and never feel “good enough.” ↳ Launch at 80%: Fix it in flight. Done is better than perfect. ↳ Set a timer for your next task and stop when it’s ‘good enough.’ Progress beats perfection every time. 5/ The Silence Spiral ↳ You keep your struggles hidden and pretend you’ve got it all figured out. ↳ Share your story: You’ll be surprised how many people say “me too.” ↳ Find a peer or mentor and share one struggle you’re facing. Vulnerability builds connection. 6/ The Safety Net ↳ You stay in your comfort zone and call it “being realistic.” ↳ Take the leap: Growth lives outside your comfort zone. ↳ Identify one “safe” habit you’re clinging to. Replace it with one bold action, no matter how small. 7/ The Knowledge Shield ↳ You hide behind preparation, waiting to know “just one more thing.” ↳ Start doing: Expertise comes from action. ↳ Turn learning into doing: Commit to acting on one idea from the last book, course, or workshop you completed. What would be possible if you silenced those doubts once and for all? For me, it meant saying yes to opportunities I used to avoid - like speaking on stage and sharing my story. ⤵️ Have you ever felt like a fraud despite your accomplishments? How did you work through it? ♻️ Share this post to remind someone they’re not alone. 🔔 Follow me, Jen Blandos, for daily business insights.

If you’re constantly second-guessing yourself, it’s not because you’re broken. For years, I thought I had to feel confident before I acted. Turns out, that’s backwards. You act first. The confidence comes later. ↗️ Here are 5️⃣ tactics I’ve used—from the cockpit to entrepreneurship—to build internal trust and take bold action even when I didn’t feel ready: 1. Act before you feel ready. ✅ Confidence isn’t a prerequisite—it’s a byproduct. Small, imperfect actions stack up. That’s how momentum builds. 2. Rehearse. Rewire. Repeat. ✅ Pilots don’t just wing it (pun intended). We run simulations in our heads, on paper, and in practice. Reps reduce fear and increase speed. 3. Debrief everything. ✅ No growth without reflection. After every mission (or meeting), ask: What worked? What didn’t? What’s next? No shame. Just intel. 4. Set your “Go/No-Go” criteria early. ✅ Identify your decision points before the pressure hits. That’s how you act with clarity instead of emotion. 5. Focus on the next closest alligator. ✅ Overwhelm kills action. Dial in on the one thing that matters right now. Handle the next threat once you get there. Which one do you need most today? Drop a number in the comments. 👇 ------------------------ Hi, I’m Michelle "MACE" Curran, a former fighter pilot turned speaker and author. I help people turn fear into fuel and take bold action, improving their lives and creating higher-performing teams.

I was minutes away from presenting the findings of a global study I’d lead-authored for one of the largest companies in the world… When a senior executive waved me over and said, “This milk is off.” I smiled politely and told him I’d let the receptionist know. His eyes widened, and he said, “Oh, I thought you WERE the receptionist.” 😠 Here’s the thing—over 50% of women have been mistaken for junior staff or janitors. For women of color, that number jumps to 58%. And it’s not just awkward, it’s corrosive! Being underestimated, spoken over, or misjudged chips away at your confidence and can even shape your career trajectory. In that moment, I had a choice: let the comment rattle me OR focus on what I came to do. I chose the latter and delivered my presentation.... But I didn't forget what happened. These moments are reminders of why we have to correct assumptions, stand our ground, and make our presence felt. Here's are some responses you can turn to in moments when someone underestimateS you: Ask Why "What made you think I was the receptionist?" Use Humor to Disarm "I’d love to help, but my milk-replacement skills are terrible—now, public speaking? That’s what I’m here for." Flip the Focus "Why is it usually the women here who get asked to do that kind of thing?" Get One-on-One Time Hanging out with someone who makes incorrect assumptions about you is probably the last thing you want to do, but spending a few minutes privately can sometimes reset how someone sees you. For example: "I wanted to flag something you said earlier. I’m here as [your role], and I want to make sure that’s clear going forward." Escalate if Needed If you continue to experience disrespect and microaggressions from a colleague, you might have to make your boss or HR aware of the situation so you can have documented evidence of how this person is treating you. You worked hard to be here. You belong in the room! And no snap judgment will change that. Image alt text: milk being poured into coffee

You don’t need “more confidence.” You need a better mirror. Most of the women I work with fall into a very specific category: Ambitious millennial women with top credentials and a track record of success — who suddenly find themselves considering career coaching. Not because they’re underperforming or have “lost it.” But because they’re in a career season that’s testing them. And if that’s you — you might feel your sense of clarity, momentum, or self-trust start to shake. Maybe you: → Feel uncharacteristically stuck + can’t explain why → Were quietly passed over (or openly laid off) → Are managing a draining boss or dysfunctional team → Are operating way below your level → Are so burnt out, you barely recognize yourself This season is 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 — and I know you'd love to sprint to the other side. But it’s also an opportunity - to rebuild your confidence. Not in a performative, “project confidence” kind of way. But in a deep-rooted, unshakeable, 𝘐’𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦 kind of way. Here are six ways to start: 1. Resource yourself first. You can’t think or affirm your way to confidence if your body is in survival mode. Start with the basics: sleep, hydration, nourishment. Then add movement — cardio for endorphins, strength training for power. When your body feels safe and strong, your mind follows. 2. Turn down the volume on your inner critics. That voice in your head questioning everything? It’s likely not yours. It’s old feedback, outdated conditioning, a throwaway comment from 2017. Write it all down. Decide what’s true, what’s not, and what gets left in the notebook. 3. Revisit your track record. You haven’t lost your capability — you just forgot the evidence. Pull out old reviews, MBA letters, kudos emails. You’re still the person who did all that. Let it remind you: you are an exceptional professional. 4. Anchor into your strengths. Despite how you feel right now, you do have a zone of genius. Get clear on what energizes you and find ways to do more of it. Need a mirror? The CliftonStrengths Finder is a great place to start. 5. Connect with people who see your brilliance. Reach out to the mentors, colleagues, and peers who know your worth. Ask what they appreciated about working with you. You’re not looking for validation — you’re rebuilding your reflection through trusted eyes. 6. Do something brave. Stepping outside your comfort zone reminds you who you are. It doesn’t have to be career-related — take the hike, sign up for the class, have the hard conversation. Every brave act is a down payment on your self-belief. -- Follow these steps and you’ll stop chasing confidence as a feeling or costume you have to put on. Instead, it will be lit deep from within - a steady flame of self-belief and self-trust. Fueling you to create the career that’s right for you. You haven’t lost your capability or potential. You just forgot to fully believe in yourself.

58% of Americans say women have to do more to prove themselves. I learned that -- at lunch with my stepfather. We'd built a media business for 10 years. When he retired, he wanted me to co-lead with his younger (male) partner. But I had a different vision. I wanted to own it. Fully. So I told him. He paused. Then said: “Yeah, but you haven’t proven that you can do it yet.” 💥Gut punch. 💨Wind, gone. That moment stuck. Because it wasn’t about readiness. It was about optics. Power. Proof. Even in families, women are asked for evidence. Not potential. Not vision. Just proof. 10 Things that work when you're ready, but they don’t see it yet: 1) “Not proven” doesn’t mean “not capable.” → Don’t confuse doubt with insight. → Do trust what you know you’re ready for. 2) Your past role isn’t your ceiling. → Don’t let old labels define your future. → Do use every quiet contribution as evidence. 3) Prove it by doing it. → Don’t defend your ambition. → Do show your work, loudly if needed. 4) Ask for stretch assignments before you're “ready.” → Don’t wait for someone to tap you. → Do signal readiness by asking for risk. 5) Speak first in meetings you usually sit through. → Don’t blend into the background. → Do offer the comment that advances the discussion. 6) Wanting more doesn’t make you selfish. → Don’t apologize for your vision. → Do chase it—unapologetically. 7) Fear means you care. Not that you’re not ready. → Don’t wait for perfect confidence. → Do move through fear with action. 8) Find your people before you leap. → Don’t go it alone. → Do build your advisory board. 9) Leadership isn’t about loudness. → Don’t assume leadership looks one way. → Do lead in the way that’s true to you. 10) Doubt sharpens your focus. → Don’t internalize it. → Do let it clarify your next move. If someone’s telling you to wait until you’re more proven… Treat it like a campaign. You’re earning belief, not waiting for it. What’s one move you made before you felt fully ready? Share in the comments. 👇 --- ♻ Repost to share with someone questioning their readiness. 👉 Follow me, Stephanie Eidelman (Meisel), for real talk on credibility, visibility, and owning your leadership voice.

How can women leaders leverage commanding confidence in professional settings? Women and men communicate differently. During Women's History Month, I will post about the mindsets and speech habits that tend to hold us back from our highest potential 💪. For example, a study in Psychological Science cited that women tend to feel more anxious about asking live questions at professional meetings, and are less likely than men to do so. In academic seminars, women are two and half times less likely to ask questions than men are. A similar study found that if a woman asked the first question, women in the audience were more likely to ask their own. When I work with young female professionals, I train them on 🗣 question-asking skills and coach them to never attend a meeting without making their voices heard. Ask a clarifying question, praise what someone else said, thank the speaker for their insights, but don’t leave the meeting without leaving your mark. My Master Communicator Blog 🎤, "Why do women and men communicate differently?" highlights common communication habits that may be harmful to a woman's credibility and perceived authority, and offers six solutions. Click the link below to read the full blog post, but here is a sampling: ✴️ Vary your pitch. Tap the lowest natural register of your voice to signal confidence. Avoid uptalk or upspeak (higher pitch at the end of a sentence that sounds like a question.) ✴️ Cut out the filler words (um, ah, like, you now, etc.) and replace them with breaths and pauses. Fillers are perceived as signs of hesitation and lack of preparation. ✴️ Claim "talking space" by asking questions and warding off interruptions. Stand when you speak in a conference setting to ensure you are SEEN and HEARD. ✴️ Avoid hedging and tagging. Prefacing a question with “This may be a silly question, but...” and "Someone may have asked this already, but...” disempowers you. Similarly, tags dilute your statements and weaken your authority: “I propose we take this action, BUT I COULD BE WRONG.” These and dozens of other communication techniques can help emerging and established women leaders level the playing field to persuade, inspire and move people to action. #leadershipcommunication #executivepresence #womenleaders #executivecommunication #publicspeakingcoach #publicspeakingskills

Work can empower you—or it can erode your self-esteem. Some of my #coaching clients struggle with impostor syndrome and/or the self-doubt that can arise from the lack of recognition that prevails in some workplaces. If you face this challenge, read on. To stay confident in challenging professional environments, shift from seeking validation from others to nurturing your internal self-worth. Here are some tips for doing so from Dina Denham Smith.   🤔 Normalize insecurity. Doubting yourself isn’t a flaw; it’s often a rational response to unclear expectations, bias, or workplace pressures. Instead of criticizing your insecurities, acknowledge them as natural and reframe your self-talk to focus on your commitment to growth.   💪 Focus on your strengths. Redirect energy from fixing weaknesses to amplifying strengths. Identify your natural talents by seeking feedback from trusted colleagues and keeping a file of your wins and positive attributes. Review it when self-doubt creeps in.   🎯 Redefine #success. Move beyond societal and workplace metrics. Define success on your terms, balancing professional and personal goals that reflect your values. This ensures your achievements align with what truly matters to you.   🫶 Audit your relationships. Surround yourself with colleagues who uplift and inspire you. Minimize interactions with those who drain your energy or undermine your confidence. Supportive connections are vital for #resilience and well-being.

6 years ago, I walked into a board meeting as the most experienced person in the room. Yet, I got interrupted, dismissed, and talked over. I was asking sharp questions, calling out blind spots, and challenging assumptions. But one of my male colleagues rolled his eyes and moved on as if I hadn’t spoken. The message was clear: “Just rubber-stamp our decisions and don’t make this difficult.” That’s when I realized... There are different rules for women in leadership. What gets called “decisive” in some is often labeled “difficult” when a woman says it. I’ve watched this play out countless times throughout my career... But speaking up is still the right thing to do. Here’s what I’ve learned navigating this: 1) Build allies who care about impact, not politics. 🤝 In high-stakes environments, decisions often get clouded by ego, legacy agendas, or internal turf wars. With the right advocates on the board, pushback doesn’t isolate you—it positions you as the voice of reason. ✅ They help amplify your message. ✅ They back your perspective with data. ✅ They keep the conversation grounded in outcomes. 2) Watch how decisions get made. One reason I’ve loved working with the executive team at Weights & Biases is their first-principles mindset. Ideas are judged on logic, not hierarchy, politics, or gender. 🧠 When the best argument wins, everyone wins. 3) Trust your gut on culture. No title or pay is worth staying somewhere that crushes your confidence. Sometimes, quitting is the smartest move. 🛡️ It’ll give you the space to find the right team that supports your growth and lets you do your best work. _________ If you’ve ever been sidelined as a female leader because you challenged an idea, here’s a reminder: You’re NOT the problem. You’re the strategic thinker holding the foundation together. 💡 That takes courage. Keep standing your ground. The right people will recognize your value—and so will the company.

For many women in tech, stepping into leadership roles comes with an uninvited companion: self-doubt. The lingering question of “Do I really belong here?” often shadows even the most accomplished professionals. But owning your seat at the table starts with recognizing that you’ve earned it through your expertise, hard work, and unique perspective. Overcoming self-doubt begins by reframing your inner narrative. Instead of focusing on what you don’t know, highlight what you bring to the table—your problem-solving skills, innovative ideas, and leadership potential. Seek out supportive mentors and sponsors who remind you of your value, and surround yourself with peers who uplift and challenge you. Confidence also grows through preparation and participation. Research the topics being discussed, voice your opinions with clarity, and remember that your perspective matters. Leadership isn’t about knowing everything; it’s about showing up, learning, and making meaningful contributions. Owning your space as a leader is about trusting your voice, embracing your role, and remembering that your presence is not only valid—it’s vital. #WomenInTech #Resilience #YouGotThis