Women shy away from claiming leadership skills on LinkedIn

In recent studies analyzing LinkedIn skill listings, significant gender disparities in how men and women present their skills have been observed. Although both men and women use the platform similarly in terms of skill volume, men are notably more likely to highlight leadership-related skills such as negotiation, project management, and team leadership. This study, conducted by researcher Benson, found that women are 16% less likely than men to feature leadership skills like team leadership and team building, regardless of their occupation or current position within a company. Interestingly, women who already hold leadership roles still underrepresent their leadership abilities compared to their male counterparts, which suggests possible underlying issues related to self-promotion and perception of career aspirations. Further examination of the data revealed that in states such as Utah, the gap is even wider, with men being 43% more likely to list leadership skills. Contrarily, this disparity diminishes significantly in states like New Hampshire and California, where the difference is reduced to 11-13%. This suggests that cultural and social factors may play a role in how individuals perceive and advertise their professional abilities. The research attributes this to men generally showing a greater interest in aspiring towards higher leadership positions than women, implying that women's career objectives might also factor into their omission of leadership skills from their profiles. Additionally, Benson's analysis noted that the reported gap in leadership skills nearly disappears within companies that rank highly for work-life balance. At such organizations, both men and women tend to assert their leadership skills more confidently, with the increase being particularly pronounced among women. Such findings indicate that fostering a positive work environment could rectify some of the complexities around gender representation in leadership roles and self-identification. As a result, this research underscores the importance of encouraging women to promote their leadership skills, as failing to do so could adversely affect their career trajectories. Overall, the study reveals profound insights into the subtle yet significant barriers women face in promoting their leadership skills, impacting their visibility and opportunities in the professional landscape. The findings call for greater awareness and action both from organizations and individuals to address these disparities.