Stop To Connect: Communicating With Confidence Helps Women Leaders
Connecting authentically in honest communication can help you in your career.
Communicating is about building networks and connections with other possible collaborators on startups, not wasting time on chit chat. And purposeful small talk can lead big-minded women entrepreneurs into finding new projects and even new organizations. Communicating with confidence is key.
According to the World Economic Forumdetailing a study from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, “…entrepreneurs learned different things about potential cofounders through the three types of interactions created by the researchers — direct collaborations, indirect relations, and short conversations.”
We’re not saying to waste anyone’s time, but seize the opportunity when it presents itself to make that personal connection. And understandably, some people are better at the art of conversation than others. This is where personality styles come into play.
Extroverts are more open and network with others more easily, which leads to better ideas, according to the World Economic Forum study. “By talking to people, you get a view and perspective that others don’t have,” says Sharique Hasan, associate professor of organizational behavior at Stanford GSB.
But, alas, being an introvert as a leader has its positives. As Jessica Stillman writes in Inc.,even if you are not the type of leader who takes control of every room, small personal interactions can be helpful as a woman leader and offer the chance for connection.
Just be sure that connection is genuine, authentic and does not reflect emotion that does not belong in the workplace.
Regardless of personality, anyone showing anger at work is not a good idea. Moodiness is a distraction, Elle Kaplan, CEO of Lexion Capital Management writes in Inc. Kindness works more to your advantage, as does self-confidence, persistence and hard work.
Yes, anger is not allowed, but fear is one emotion you can use to your advantage. According to Sameer Dua, writing at Open For Business, “Every mood or emotion has an internal conversation and the internal conversation of boldness is ‘Even though I have fear, I will take action.’”
Tackling the fear and making bold moves to pursue your career goals in spite of that numbing emotion can be empowering and also lead to enormous success. And communicating with confidence your path to success in a transparent and honest way can be inspiring to others. Confidence is a powerful tool.
Amanda Hesser, is co-founder of Food52 in 2009 with Merrill Stubbs, an e-commerce business worth $6.2 million in 2014 and described as “a hub for the culinary inclined.” Hesser told Inc she had her doubts when starting the company. But she persevered. “Girl, you have to have the ‘this can’t fail’ feeling.”
Moving through your trepdiation and fear of failure in order to make a bold move toward your goal– whether that is launching a startup, starting a conversation with a colleague or mentor you do not know well, making a suggestion for a new project or following up on an idea for collaboration–can help you grow your own confidence. And confidence can be contagious.
According to Kaplan, the most successful and productive women leaders, regardless of personality style, engage in a handful of best practices that increase self-confidence and the confidence of peers and colleagues.
Those include the need to reflect, preservere, share credit and occasionally get away from it all. Respite recharges the batteries.
Kaplan suggests that delegating responsibility to others also inspires confidence in your self and your networking team. She writes, “The best piece of advice that Katherine Power, CEO and Co-Founder of Clique Media Group, ever received was: ‘Only do what only you can do.’
About the Author
Michele Weldon is editorial director of Take The Lead, an award-winning author, journalist, emerita faculty in journalism at Northwestern University and a senior leader with The OpEd Project. @micheleweldon www.micheleweldon.com