“In every setting we explored, we observed a substantial gender gap in self-promotion: women systematically provided less favorable assessments of their own past performance and potential future ability than equally performing men,” the researchers concluded. Kessler, an associate professor of business economics and public policy at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, women were less likely to self-promote even when they clearly performed better than others.

In a study conducted by Christine Exley, assistant professor of business administration at Harvard Business School and Judd B. Studies confirm the existence of a “gender promotion gap” in which women seem consistently reluctant to publicize their achievements. Managers in many cases are unable to quantify the specific value that you bring, and how much effort it took you to bring about a certain outcome, if you don’t talk about it.” The Gender Promotion Gap “Many times, women think ‘my boss should be able to know and recognize the value I bring,’” says Shahbari. “If you don’t self-promote, your contributions will probably not be visible nor recognized, which will limit your ability to get a promotion, a raise, or important projects that will help you advance in your career,” says Areen Shahbari, CEO of Shahbari Training & Consultancy and an instructor at the Harvard Extension School and Harvard Professional Development Programs, including Women Leaders: Advancing Together. Getting recognized for your accomplishments can be key to achieving visibility in the workplace. While this might not necessarily be a problem in other contexts, in the world of work, it can be. Studies reveal that women are far less likely to tout their own laudable job performance than male counterparts.

If you guessed that the self-promoting employee was male, you’re right. The other presents an informative report with the same data but credits the entire team for a job well done.Ĭan you guess which employee was male and which was female? One employee boasts of having personally done an “outstanding” job. Two employees are asked to summarize their progress at work.

Women 21 plays with self