The Well-Spoken Woman Read Online Free

are not. The feminine attributes of engaging in dialogue, listening, disclosing, being animated, and showing empathy—traditionally considered signs of weakness—are now valued and expected. When those characteristics are combined with steady confidence and a bit of a swagger, the sum is a compelling persona. The Power Persona is a trifecta of style, substance, and self-esteem.
    Power Persona Trifecta
    Signature style —an engaging presence
    Synchronized message —relevant and purposeful
    Self-assured manner —ready to handle anything
    The Power Persona is not a mask you put on in front of an audience. It is not a cape like Wonder Woman's that will help you leap tall buildings. The trifecta is a set of underlying, enduring traits that contribute to long-term success. The attributes are fundamental principles that good speakers have developed and honed through practice and real-life experience. For example, the specific techniques a speaker uses to project assuredness may vary, but the underlying need for assuredness is timeless and essential. Ann Richards was a confident speaker, but the way she communicated her confidence is different from the way Maya Angelou, Hillary Clinton, or Suze Orman do it. All these women are self-assured; each communicates this quality with a distinct personality and speaking style. The Power Persona empowers you to demonstrate that you know who you are and what you are talking about. Like Rosie the Riveter, you will be able to project inner strength.
    POWER PERSONA PRINCIPLE: SIGNATURE STYLE
    Public speaking can feel like a striptease, except that you are much more exposed. The body feels bare, and people are judging your looks and ideas. There is no escaping the fact that women seeking to initiate a dialogue or contribute an idea are scrutinized from hair to hemline to heel height. Have you considered how your look is impacting your ability to be heard and taken seriously? By look , I am referring to everything that comprises your overall appearance, including clothing, hair, makeup, accessories, mannerisms, and idiosyncrasies. Do the components add up to a total package that projects confidence and capability? Or is there an attribute that is missing or an element that is holding you back?
    Let's tackle head-on the issue of physical appearance and attire so we can deal with it and then move on. Like it or not, it is what people notice first, and it is the basis for snap judgments that may impede others' ability to hear what you say. 60 Minutes correspondent Leslie Stahl reports that a good chunk of viewer mail over the past twenty years has critiqued her earrings. “People write, ‘We love them,' or, ‘Never wear that pair again.'” 4 The journalist who covered the Gulf War, a presidential assassination attempt, and world economic summits gets more feedback on danglingjewelry than her reporting. The chatter about the superficial is exasperating and demeaning, but ignoring it would be a mistake. You may discount the importance of appearance, but audiences do not. Caring about how you look isn't about vanity but rather about awareness of the message you telegraph through appearance.
    Step 1: Recognize That Appearance Counts
    If the dress is dowdy and the hair last-century, the woman and her opinion can be dismissed as outdated. Do your suits look like the wardrobe from the movie Working Girl with big shoulders in somber charcoal gray? If so, it's time to hang up the body armor. This doesn't mean you have to follow fashion's latest trends or spend exorbitant sums on designer clothes. Melinda Gates can afford to wear anything, but she doesn't flaunt showy labels that might be off-putting. Her every-woman outfits ensure that clothing is a nonissue.
    My heart goes out to younger generations who are bombarded with pop culture images pushing sexy and provocative attire. The fashion industry focuses on glam and seasonal trends, which can result in disastrous