This Working Life: Self-belief, confidence and ignoring that inner critic are key to women achieving their goals

Whether it’s progressing their careers or downshifting, women need to be clear about what they want to achieve and to follow that with a plan

Many women have aspirations but never take the actions required to make them a reality. Picture: Getty

What are your short-term and long-term career goals? If your inner critic and life responsibilities didn’t get in the way, what would be your biggest career aspiration?

Many women get to a certain level and stop. That inner critic tells them they are not qualified or experienced enough to apply for the next promotion opportunity, yet their male counterparts may be more willing to take such a risk.

As a mother of three and ex-corporate ...