The boardroom was alive with the sound of voices as the all-male executives discussed the company’s latest proposal. Suddenly, a woman’s voice rang out clear and strong, catching everyone off guard. The men looked at her with surprise, clearly not expecting her to have anything worthwhile to say. But she continued speaking, laying out her well-considered argument with confidence.
The other executives soon began to see that she was knowledgeable and capable, and they started to take her seriously. She ended up winning them over with her arguments, and the proposal was approved. The other executives were amazed at how well she had done, considering that she was a woman. But she just said nonchalantly – I have been speaking like a man for years!
Did you know that the average business meeting is dominated by men’s voices? And while it’s hard to quantify, research indicates that 75% of the talking is done by men. It’s not that women don’t have anything to say, it’s just that their voices are often drowned out by the louder, more aggressive men in the room.
This can be frustrating for women, who have a lot to offer in terms of ideas and insights. It can also be frustrating for men, who may not be getting the most out of their meetings because they’re not hearing from everyone in the room.
One way to combat this problem is to make a conscious effort to give women a voice. This means pausing to let them speak and listening to what they have to say. It also means not letting the loudest voices in the room dominate the discussion.
One way to combat this problem is to make a conscious effort to give women a voice. This means pausing to let them speak and listening to what they have to say. It also means not letting the loudest voices in the room dominate the discussion.
But does this happen?
The answer is a big NO
Despite the progress women have made over the years, they still struggle to find their voice in the room.
“Just trust yourself, look within and all will be good”, were the wise words of the Youth Coach and Educationist, Avinash Singh Alag.
At work, women are not promoted as often as men because their managers underestimate their potential and attribute it to a lack of self-confidence. How can it be possible that all the talented women in the organisation lack self-confidence? So, how can women overcome their fear of asserting themselves and projecting confidence in the workplace?
To overcome this bias, women need to be proactive in communicating their accomplishments and proving that they are capable of taking on challenging assignments. Many women who have worked for large corporations leave their jobs to start their businesses. They have the guts to take the plunge and the determination to make their businesses work. What makes these women so confident there? Is it their years of experience in the corporate world? Or is it something else entirely?
When it comes to confidence, it’s hard to judge a person’s character without knowing them well. However, much can be inferred from the way people present themselves, and the way they talk is a big part of that also known as the linguistic style.
I’ve always been interested in the way that language can affect human relationships. I’ve observed how the way we speak as children can affect how competent and confident we feel, as well as who gets heard and what gets done.
Women are often taught different styles of speaking than men, which can make them seem less competent and self-assured than they are. This is due, in part, to the way our culture socializes boys and girls differently. Boys are encouraged to be assertive and speak their minds, while girls are often taught to be more passive and not stand out. As a result, women can feel uncomfortable using the same speaking style as men, even if it is more appropriate for the situation. By learning to speak in a way that feels authentic to them, women can overcome this confidence gap and feel more confident and self-assured in their communication.
More about this in my next piece on Linguistic Style.