Half of women executives feel insufficiently challenged: Accenture

04 March 2009

Bangalore: Almost half of women business professionals around the world – and a similar number of their male counterparts – believe they are insufficiently challenged, despite being confident of their skills and capabilities, reveals new research from Accenture (NYSE: ACN).

Accenture's survey of 3,600 professionals from medium to large organisations in 18 countries across Europe, Asia, North America, South America and Africa found that 46 per cent of women and 49 per cent of men said they are not being challenged significantly in their current roles, yet more than three-quarters (76 per cent) of all respondents are confident of their skills and capabilities.

These skills include the ability to manage their workload and deadlines (70 per cent), to delegate tasks (68 per cent) and to negotiate (65 per cent).

The research, released ahead of Accenture's commemoration of International Women's Day, also found that almost six in 10 women (59 per cent) believe that their careers are successful or very successful. Additionally, nearly half (46 per cent) of women who consider themselves very successful reported that they are in jobs that require them to stretch beyond their expected responsibilities.

Yet, these women are challenging themselves further - more than eight in 10 women (81 per cent) who consider themselves ''very successful'' said they take on additional responsibilities and complexity to advance their careers, and three-quarters (75 per cent) reported that they regularly stretch themselves beyond their comfort zone. 

They are also learning new skills that can help them move to the next level, are willing to consider a new position or role (78 per cent), and are willing to travel globally to conduct business (76 per cent) or build relationships (68 per cent) and regularly ask for new challenges (65 per cent).