I hope you’ve had a chance to soak in and action some of the insights from Part 1 on supreme confidence that I wrote about in Edition 77.
Today, we’ll look at seven more characteristics of the most powerful woman in the room based on Lydia Fenet’s book “The Most Powerful Woman in the Room is You.”
7. The most powerful woman in the room commands her audience.
Commanding your audience is about mastering how to connect with them and engage them emotionally. As the speaker - whether in a room of 5 or 500 - you have to be energetic, enthusiastic and excited about what you are talking about.
Julia Taylor Cheek, Founder & CEO of EverlyWell a digital healthcare brand, who landed one of the largest deals in Shark Tank history has a useful tip about commanding your audience.
“Think about what the audience wants to learn; so much of a good presentation is the audience thinking they learned something, or that they were entertained.”
Julia also reminds us that the Q&A after a presentation or a speech is “a great opportunity to shine and reiterate your key points.” And don’t forget to smile!
8. The most powerful woman in the room creates a roadmap and follows through.
“It is easy to get stuck in the everyday grind.”
“Setting out a long-term road map - is crucial to feeling confident and laser-focused on what you want to achieve.”
It is easy to get busy with the business of life. This is an important reminder to keep an eye on the larger goals and vision you want to achieve and slowly chip away at them. Keep reminding yourself of your big goals and take small steps every day.
I started my newsletter a year and a half ago with a big goal of gaining experience with writing and connecting with an audience. Rather than starting with a book, I chose the newsletter, a smaller chunk of my goal and more achievable with regularity. Now, 78 weeks later, I have built up a decent body of work. This has given me the supreme confidence to write my first book which I have just embarked upon.
9. The most powerful woman in the room evolves, innovates and connects.
Karen Spencer, Founder & CEO, Whole Child International, voted as one of 25 women changing the world advocates an approach that is steadfast and determined but also open and flexible.
“At the end of the day, our power lies in the ability to believe in our ideas and create solutions that move our idea forward, connecting all the dots when the inevitable failure appears, regrouping, and beginning again. Evolution.”
Not giving up is an important element of dealing with failure and setbacks.
Don’t take it personally. Reflect, learn from mistakes and move on.
10. The most powerful woman in the room catches more bees with honey.
My belief that being likeable always helps was reinforced by Lydia’s thoughts on this topic. She grew up in the US South and was drilled in important life values by her grandmother. Upbringing has a huge impact on your approach to work and life. Can you draw upon the best lessons from your childhood and bring them into how you operate now?
Some key ideas for you to consider:
Always write a thank-you note
Get up, dress up, and show up
Stop b@tching and start fixing
Never let them see you sweat
You catch more bees with honey
“If you’re not dishing out the honey, you’re not winning.”
11. The most powerful woman in the room is only as good as her word.
Reputation takes years to build but can be destroyed by one careless action in minutes. It can either open or close doors.
Integrity has become more important than ever and can be a key differentiator for your personal brand. Are you the kind of person who keeps her word? Do you exude credibility and trust?
Never set expectations beyond what you can deliver.
“Remember that your reputation is everything, and the Most Powerful Woman in the Room is known for her stellar reputation.”
12. The most powerful woman in the room exudes confidence.
“The Most Powerful Woman in the Room understands that no matter how high someone ascends into the ranks of their job or in the stratospheres of celebrity, they are still looking to connect through shared emotional experiences and will always respect someone who has put in the time to rise to the top of their game.”
We have to have the confidence to get guidance from those more successful than us and grow ourselves to that position. One day we will be the one helping others achieve their goals.
Alexandra Buckely Voris, Cofounder, Bitsy’s Brainfood has excellent advice to know when you have made it.
“Rather than wasting a bunch of energy trying to morph into someone she’s not, a powerful woman knows that when she grabs hold of her straight-up self, without apologising for what she thinks she lacks and getting angry about who she isn’t - when a woman doesn’t “accept” herself but rather says, This is who I am - that is when power is seized. The minute I started to understand not only that my sensitivity wasn’t a weakness but also that it’s at the heart of what makes me strong, that was when everything changed.”
13. The most powerful woman in the room inspires others and leads by example.
“The Most Powerful Woman in the Room is an information seeker, a connector of people, and she is constantly listening to the advice of other women in her life. Sometimes all she needs is a forum to share her ideas and learn from others. So be the one who steps forward and invites everyone into a place where support and encouragement are the name of the game.”
I hope that this two part Edition on supreme confidence has given you more firepower for believing in yourself and going after your goals with great energy and tenacity. There is no better way to feel good about yourself than to pay it forward.
So do it early and do it now!
Over to you now:
How badly do you want to be the Most Powerful Woman in the Room?
What can you learn from other powerful women in the room?
Who can you empower to be the Most Powerful Woman in the Room?