Years of experience in dealing with the dog-eat-dog world of politics, have given The Hon Kristina Keneally — the first female Premier of NSW Parliament — a good grounding in how to make an impact.
At the Women, Management and Work conference organized by Macquairie University, she shared her pragmatic tips on what you need to know if you want to be taken seriously and succeed as a business woman in today’s business world.
1. The most powerful impact is made before we’ve uttered a word
Around 50% of communication is made before you open your mouth and people make the decision whether they want to talk to you or work with you or not.
For example, don’t wear jeans if you are a Member of Parliament and want want to take you seriously. People will take you seriously if you look the part – they will treat you how you dress.
Have the right uniform that suits your brand.
Think about ‘what is the message I want to send and does ALL of my communication represent this?’
“My suit/uniform made me battle-ready or ready to impress,” Keneally said.
2. Write as you speak and speak as your write
People love stories. Telling a story will instantly connect you to the audience and open dialogue. But don’t rant, get to the point. This is a great way to break the ice.
Stories also make the abstract relatable. If you can be funny, go for it, but be good at it and also be careful — it can backfire.
Furthermore, if you want to impress make sure you use killer facts … they will always win an argument
3. Verbal tics and physical crutches
Don’t speak if you have nothing of valuable to say. Remember that if something is rare, it is treated with respect and has higher value.
Stop the verbal tics – “look” … “um” … “then”.
Ladies, stop the verbal uplift. Ending a sentence with your voice pitched high (as you are asking a question) sounds immature.
Things that dis-empower women when they talk: “can I say” … “can I thank/acknowledge”. Remember that thanking them is polite, asking for permission can be seen as weak. Instead use: “I would like to say” and “I would like to thank”.
Don’t say “do you know what I mean?” because if they say no you have immediately shown that you can’t communicate clearly.
4. Using emotion is a far cry from being emotional
It is ok to use emotion but not to be emotional. Women have a great ability to show passion and emotion when they talk or present without showing excessive emotion. It is a powerful tool and often women do it better than men. Naturally.
Tip: Smile as it makes you more approachable.
5. Always have a call to action
Empowering others to take leadership in the direction you want them too – the call to action – is crucial. If you can get people to do that, it is the quintessence of leadership.
Whether it be an email or a meeting. Don’t ask what to do next; set a call to action and move on.
