The bold and the beautiful

Iam not what you would call a shrinking violet. I give impromptu speeches, appear on live radio or TV at a moment’s notice and have been known to belt out the odd karaoke tune or two.

In my career I have given presentations to (nearly all male) boards of some of the biggest media companies in the world. My former bosses are global (male) household names, who I had to share my vision with, and deliver the promised results.

And yet there have been times when I have been terrified at work, deep breathing in the ladies’ room before an important meeting and putting on red lipstick to make myself look – and feel – more powerful. “You’re good,” I used to tell my reflection to stop my body and voice trembling, but the little doubting voice inside the back of my head would always answer: “Yes, but are you good enough?”

Now I know I’m not alone. The majority of women lack self-confidence, thinking that they need to be able to do 100 per cent of a job to apply for it, while testosterone-loaded men believe 60 per cent is good enough. That’s because we have a part of our brain called the anterior cingulate cortex, which is essentially the worry centre, and guess what? It’s larger in women. Perhaps that’s because we have to juggle our families and friends, and all the associated problems and emotions, as well as our careers.

I conquer mine by chanting how great I am. I figure if I say it 100 times a day, maybe just once I’ll believe it. Find out more on this fascinating topic on page 22 and let me know how you’ve become self-confident.

Until next week!