Inside Voices

“During the average day, most of us speak around 16,000 words. But our thoughts – our internal voices – produce thousands more. The voice of consciousness is a silent but tireless chatterbox, secretly barraging us with observations, comments and analyses without pause.? – Susan David, Emotional Agility

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When we think about language, we immediately think about the words that come out of our mouths. But, what about all the words that never get spoken?

What’s the power and impact of them?

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The reality is how you talk to yourself directly impacts how you talk to others.

What does that look like?

You say “no” to opportunities when you should say “yes”.

You say “yes” to things that you should say “no” to.

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What does that inner voice sound like?

o?? I’m not going to apply for that job because I wouldn’t be able to do an interview in English.

o?? There’s no point in asking for a raise because I can’t negotiate in English.

o?? It would be silly to volunteer to give that client presentation when there are native English colleagues who would do a better job than me.

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Personally, I debated for months whether to start this newsletter because my inner voice was saying, “no one will read it”. ?(A huge THANK YOU for signing up - what a delightful surprise! Even if you never read it again, I’m immensely grateful for your support.)

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Maybe you’re wondering why this newsletter is “for HER”?

It’s quite simple. I want to see more women leaders everywhere AND I’m so tired of the same old stale advice given to women.

·?????? You need to be more confident.

·?????? You need to improve your negotiation skills.

·?????? Don’t show too much emotion at work.

·?????? Be assertive, but not bossy.

·?????? You must overcome your Imposter Syndrome.

·?????? And on, and on…

What’s the common message? To be successful at work, you need to behave more like a man, but not too much like a man.

?I don’t buy it. In fact, I reject how we normalize gender roles and behaviour in the workplace, measuring performance and success against them.

So, what can you expect from this newsletter? Each week we’ll explore a topic that affects women in the workplace.

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P.S. My definition of woman (singular) = every single human being who identifies as a woman, from every intersection of life. You are welcome here in all your unique glory.

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<<Women belong everywhere. Let’s make it happen. >>

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Photo Credit: Pexels - Chelsi Peter

Photo Description: A person’s white t-shirt reads: daughters; visionaries; queens; rulers; women