In business, perception is reality. Understanding how your behavior can shift perception and support your career goals will change your life. Self-awareness is important, but acting on that awareness and changing how you communicate with others is the true key to success. Female leaders have the unique challenge of cultivating perception to avoid the typical stereotypes, walking a tight rope between the bitchy tyrant and the obliging child. The end goal: Be a confident and compassionate leader.
The best piece of advice I ever received was to ask myself a simple question: “Do you want to be right, or happy?” This has influenced my relationships and communication style in every facet of my life. Being right to establish superiority alienates others and staggers growth. It does not matter if you are technically correct, when you instantly react to a question or talk over a colleague, you imply that you aren’t listening. I have worked with many young managers who succumb to this type of communication pattern with others, but by modifying a few behaviors, they can shift the way colleagues and management perceive them and respond.
