POWER TALK FOR WOMEN May 2023

POWER TALK FOR WOMEN Magazine

May 2023

Assertive vs. Aggressive

How to Use Both

Your ”Stealth”

Networking Orbit

Self-Care in Business –It’s really a Thing!

How to Prepare for and Conduct a Productive Meeting

My “Stealth Networking” Orbit

Have you ever felt “cornered” by someone who was working so hard for your business? Someone who deployed borderline “harassment” techniques to force you into another conversation hoping to “convert” you into becoming a customer? I HATE THOSE!

I use a “Stealth Networking” approach. In fact, I hesitate to call it networking! I like to visit with other women, get to know who they are and what they do, and most importantly – to hear about their successes and challenges. I learn from every conversation. I like to build trust with other women so we can be open with each other. I want conversations to be meaningful and rich.

I have told many of my business associates and friends that some women are in my “orbit” for almost a year before they reach out for a conversation. In the meantime, I am offering tips and techniques to help them navigate their life as a leader, business owner, or simply as a strong woman.

Work to adjust your networking mindset. Resist the pressure of creating a certain outcome and lean into the simple enjoyment of connecting with other women!

I work to learn as much as I can about other women that I encounter. Our stories are so very interesting! And we have a lot to say.

The conversations I enjoy the most are those when we find a topic that resonates with both of us. We can explore it in a way that makes us feel like kindred spirits.

The final thing I want to mention is my total enjoyment in visiting with women of different generations. I want to learn from the wisdom of those who have gone before me and those that are coming after me. They all have so much to offer! What will you do to start “Stealth Networking”?

“I know that we can connect over shared experiences, successes and challenges. Those connections build trust” Tina

Self-Care in Business

This concept doesn’t seem possible, doesn’t it? Self-care in business seems counterintuitive. Self-care is normally something we do when we leave our business environment. However, self-care is possible in business. Consider these things:

• What if you had a schedule that worked better for you?

• What if you could train others how to treat you and interact with you more effectively?

• What if you scheduled time off and had something to look forward to?

• What if you focused on the the priorities that were most important to your personal and business success?

It’s easy for me to list these items, but much harder for you to make them happen. First, you must find the motivation to stick with your new behaviors. How would you feel if you were able to accomplish even one of these suggestions? Use that feeling to propel you to act. I always need a bit of imagination to get in touch with that feeling. But once I do, it becomes much easier to lean into something new. Think about some of the changes you wish to make and if you need to chat about those with me, feel free to click HERE to set up a free call.

HOW AND WHEN TO BE ASSERTIVE…

I focus on Power Talk for Women – showing them how to show up, speak up, and make power moves! Part of that formula involves learning to be assertive. MerriamWebster dictionary defines assertive as… characterized by bold or confident statements and behavior.

I often mention that we train others how to treat us. When we don’t assert ourselves, we miss the opportunities to engage in this training. Don’t shy away from being assertive. It will serve you well. You’ll start with small wins and move on to bigger ones…

AND THEN AGGRESSIVE…

To be assertive, you have to communicate in a way that allows others to know where you stand, have clarity about what you want, and understand that you don’t want to hear “no” for an answer! We don’t always get what we want, but we leave interactions feeling more confident because we asked for what we want and need. It is empowering!

When we look at the definition for aggressive we find…Ready or likely to attack or confront. I don’t ever suggest we attack another person –verbally or physically. However, when I think of aggression, I like to frame it as a response in two ways:

1. When you continually work to advocate for yourself, you might need to escalate your request. Escalation can involve going to someone higher in the organization, or becoming more forceful in your request. This forceful behavior could involve something such as giving a deadline for an action.

2. When you get what you asked for, pursue it aggressively – with purpose and dedication. Show the person that you meant what you said by going after it!

How to Hold a Productive Meeting

• SCHEDULE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF TIME: Don’t simply schedule a standard amount of time – consider how much time you need and work to fit the discussion/decisions to that time frame.

• INVITE THE RIGHT PEOPLE: Who needs to participate and who simply needs a follow-up summary instead of attending? Think about the purpose of the meeting and select attendees based on what you wish to accomplish.

• HAVE AN AGENDA: Craft an agenda and distribute it before the meeting. Allow others to wrap their heads around what will be discussed. Be aware that some will read it and others will not. That’s okay because those who needed it to come prepared will read it before the meeting.

• DOCUMENT THE DECISIONS AND THE ITEMS TO REVISIT: I love to summarize the agreements reached and the actions we need to take at the end of each meeting. If the actions are not assigned, go ahead and get that done before you adjourn.

• INCLUDE ANY PENDING ITEMS IN THE NEXT MEETING’S AGENDA: Prepare to get a progress report on any assigned items either before or during the next meeting.

• CELEBRATE THE WINS: Make time on the agenda to celebrate what is going well, what is ahead of schedule, and even reaching agreement on decisions. I even like to celebrate the fact that we conducted an open, honest discussion where everyone felt heard.

Let’s Connect...

This is what I do:

I'm known as "The Leadership Whisperer” by my clients. Yes, that's really my thing! I developed my Power Talk Formula© to help women like you - Business Owners and Professionals - get the tools and techniques you need to smooth out conflict, show up confidently and powerfully, enhance your Executive Presence, and bring your leadership to new heights – with the goal to get the results you want and need! You'll build new skills in communication and effective interactions with your peers, supervisor, executives, and team - becoming your own "Leadership Whisperer". AND these skills will carry over into your personal relationships. That's a bonus from our work together!

I engage in customized Executive Coaching, team workshops, strategic planning, public speaking, and informative online training and webinars. I also have several programs and groups to provide you with lots of options to engage with me and other like-minded women.

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I'm a professionally trained coach with a CPA and an Executive MBA, serving my clients as their Executive and Business Coach.