EPC — Assessing Achievements

A study tested the difference between men and women’s perceptions of their own achievements. Each gender group took a test and then received their results. The results were rigged, as was the ease of the test: one set of tests was very difficult, and scores were reported  low, regardless of performance. The second set of tests was extremely easy and results were falsely reported high.

Then the men and women were asked, “To what do you attribute your performance?” The results were astounding.

For the difficult test, men credited their performance to external fac- tors: the test was faulty, instructions  inadequate, not enough time given for the task. Women credited their poor performance  on internal  fac- tors: “I’ve never been good at this kind of thing,” “I was confused,” “I didn’t  understand  the  instructions   well  enough,  and  should  have asked,” “I was tired.”

When  asked about  their  good performance,  men  tended  to credit their success first to internal factors: “I’ve always been good at tests,” “I like challenges.” While women credited their success to external factors, giving their success to others: “You explained it well,” “The instructions were so clear,” “The test was easy,” “Anyone could have done this.”

This brings us back to crowing, and finding our true voice. If we’ve been trained  to credit our success externally and debit our failures to ourselves, we’re indeed in a bind.

It is important  to come to an authentic  assessment of our talents and  strengths,  speaking  from  our  center.  When  not  owning  our accomplishments, our voice can feel as if it is hiding behind us, coming from in back. When bragging, it is in front, ahead of us—and can trip us up.