Minimising!

‘Minimising’ — *Marshall Goldsmith & Sally Helgesen identify this as the Number 9 challenge holding women back.

‘Minimising’, Goldsmith & Helgesen say, is rooted in an awareness of other people’s needs and the wish to show them that you value their presence and insights and manifests by downplaying your own achievements or qualifications.

Minimising can be connected to the 'Disease to Please'  too - or rather, the avoidance of displeasing others.

 We think ‘minimising’ may also be rooted in childhood socialisation of women around being seen, not heard, and an inner ‘smalling’ of oneself – almost ‘I don’t really belong’, ‘Maybe I can stay if I keep myself small and offer opinions tentatively .’

So, what does minimising look like?