There’s a myth – believed by 70% of everywomanNetwork members but debunked by research – that women are more risk-averse than men; that we’re less likely to take an opportunity if there’s a chance the outcome is undesirable.
The reality is that, regardless of gender, we all sit somewhere on the risk-aversion scale, whether we’re low risk takers – overly cautious, fearful and uncertain; high risk takers – impulsive, careless and irresponsible; or more measured risk takers – harm avoidant, conscientious, comfortable with ambiguity, confident, competent and courageous.
Discover where you sit by taking this quick quiz – a shorter version of the one presented in our Risk Taking For Greater Success workbook, authored by Atlantic rower and self-confessed risk-taker Sally Kettle.
Knowing where you sit on the scale can help you adapt for greater success, opening up new challenges, pushing yourself to try new things, enabling you to be more creative and solve more complex problems, and building your confidence and self-esteem to boot.
For each of the three sections below, score one point for each statement you agree with, before looking at the explanation on the right to discover what a low or high score in this area might implicate.
Sensation seeking | 25% of everywomanNetwork members are sensation seekers, motivated by the ‘thrill’ or the excitement an opportunity could afford them, whether it’s from bungee jumping, discovering interesting and unusual hobbies, or finding invigoration through arts or sports. A low score in this section indicates you’re likely to take time over decisions or are able to better deal with monotony without frustration, and prefer routine and order over excitement. |
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Comfortable with change | 22% of everywomanNetwork members fall into this category. A high score indicates you’re action orientated and can deal with fluctuating and unpredictable situations – great competencies to have in the business world. A low score in this area might require you to dig deeper into your feelings around changing environments. Is your discomfort based on negative past experiences? If you feel anxious or fearful when confronted with change, it’s important to examine the feelings and seek help. |
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Reward seeking | 53% of everywomanNetwork members look for the personal reward benefit in a risk they’re considering taking. Career development and ambitions are the important factors at play here, with potential professional, financial and social recognition seen as good indicators of a risk being worth taking. |
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Now you’ve discovered what sorts of risks and risky situations you’re more likely to be attracted to, take a look at which elements of your personality are likely to moderate your risk-taking. Again, score a point for each statement you agree with.
Self-protection | A high score in this section indicates a personality who’ll throw caution to the window when it comes to a risk. Those with a lower score will be more guarded, cautious and moderate in their approach, tending to avoid risks where the outcome is more uncertain. |
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Sensibility | A high score in this section indicates a higher propensity to break rules; while a low score suggest you’ll be a stickler for rule following. When it comes to risk-taking, this ‘moderator’ will determine how you think through the decision, weighing up the pros and cons to arrive at the most measured response. |
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Desire to control | A high score indicates a high ‘locus of control’ or a desire to control situations, sometimes excessively. At the other end of the spectrum, a low score could indicate that you feel things are ‘happening to you’, that you have no control over your surroundings and may even feel anxiety or frustration in high-stakes situations. |
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Finally, tot up the number of statements you agreed with.
A score of 14 or less may indicate you’re stuck in a rut, risk-averse to the point of passing up opportunities.
A score of 15-19 suggests you’re a moderate risk taker, carefully weighing up each opportunity before you take the plunge.
A score of 20-24 suggests you might need to moderate your approach to become more analytic and careful.
Building your competence in risk-taking can help inch you closer to the healthiest, moderate centre of the risk aversion scale. Begin today with our seven-step approach:
- Reflect on your achievements: acknowledge past successes and how they relate to risks you’ve taken
- Know your strengths and weaknesses: conduct an analysis of what you’re good at and where you need to develop
- Set clear goals: make a plan for how you’ll go about achieving them
- Visualise: have a clear idea of what you want and what success looks like
- Commit to being successful: decide your plan with the outcome you want in mind
- Acquire knowledge and skills: be clear about what you need to learn in order to be successful
- Think big, start small: break your goal down into manageable chunks and track your success as you go
Remember, increasing your competence will lead to increased confidence; increased confidence will enable a more measured approach to risk taking, with which comes newfound success.
