11 176 women questioned in 11 countries over 3 years – IT cosmetics and Eranos conducted a large global study to understand, measure and increase women’s confidence, based on the respondi panel. In order to get the fullest picture of this complex cultural phenomena, qualitative and quantitative data have been mixed and local experts called in to navigate this complexity.

The complete study reveals extensive insights on the sources of women’s confidence on a global level, but also for each of the 11 countries. Four key findings have been identified:

1. Confidence is relational, you can’t increase it on your own. It is not a personal matter or an individual possession, but increasing confidence is something collective, something that you receive, give and grow with others.

2. Confidence stems from 14 different sources. The way women draw on them depends on different factors, e.g. on their personalities, on their stage of life or even on the hour of the day. Among those 14 sources are for example the capacity to have a positive outlook on life, resilience, validation, approval and encouragement by others, or the certainty in one’s intellectual background.

3. Globally, women’s confidence is rather low – few women around the world actually feel very confident.

4. Women around the world build their confidence in very similar ways. However, some confidence sources are more sought out than others – which is because confidence always serves the same purpose: facilitating social-assimilation.

For more information, have a look at the complete Women’s Confidence Report.