Community Spotlight: Carol Chesney Hess on Becoming an Empowered Communicator
I’m passionate about two things – the power of words and the empowerment of women. I guess that’s not so strange given that I make my living as a writer/editor/communications consultant, and – well – I’m a woman! If there’s one thing I know for sure, becoming an empowered communicator is crucial for any woman who wants to take the lead.
Sadly, although we women have the reputation for being good communicators, we’re really not. Our communication style is characterized by a struggle between saying something and holding back, between being assertive and not being assertive enough, between sharing our message and diminishing that message. We telegraph our tentativeness and our self-doubt. The result? Our messages, our wisdom, our insight, our voices become diminished, and that’s everyone’s loss because never has the world needed to hear our clear, direct truth more than it does right now.
Here are 4 things to do to become an empowered communicator:
- Practice mindfulness when you speak or write – don’t telegraph tentativeness or self-doubt.
- Think before apologizing. (Most women apologize way too much.)
- Ask directly for what you need – no waffling or hedging or wheedling!
- Watch your body language because it accounts for 55% of your overall message.
Carol Chesney Hess, a former guest on Women Taking the Lead, is a business and life coach who encourages, guides, and inspires women to play big in both their personal and professional lives. She is also an inspirational speaker/trainer on the topics of women’s self-empowerment, confidence building, and empowered verbal and written communication.
