Women are not necessarily the best at putting forth the best foot. We are a complex species, and don’t even bring our baggage into this conversation! There are so many things to consider.
So how can we project a powerful image and create the impact that we want? It’ll take some awareness of non-verbals, language projection, and a few other items to keep in mind. For example, being careful not to beat yourself up over something you did can be a helpful way to boost self-confidence. And we have many other tips as well.
Watch our training video, where Katie and Carol talk about sample situations we are in and how to make yourself look more powerful.
You may also want to read more about how your authenticity can lead to a more natural presentation.
More in the video!
At Skirt Strategies we focus on a different leadership goal each month, providing a training tip via video and weekly training assignments for subscribed members.
PODCAST TRANSCRIPTION
Carol: Hi! It’s Skirt Strategies.
Katie: Welcome to – Video Training for Women in Leadership. This is Skirt Strategies. I’m Katie.
Carol: And I’m Carol.
Katie: It’s always good that we introduce ourselves.
Carol: I know. By now – you should know who we are.
Katie: Maybe. But we love you – if you are a new follower.
We give women – video tips, audio tips, podcast tips for being better, effective women leaders using the natural skills that they have inherently.
And this is called – The Hot Flash Video, where we give you a video tip.
Carol: And this month’s video tip is – The Simplest Ways to Create a Powerful Image.
Katie: Well…
Carol: Do you struggle with that?
Katie: Maybe. I think I do. I think there are some venues where I’m not established. And so, I go in – feeling like they don’t know me. And they’re thinking, “Who is she?”
And that’s what goes through my head – by the way. Which is one of the tips – is to think about what’s going through your head. And then it starts reflecting in my body.
Carol: Right.
Katie: Our big – “Aha!” with powerful image is that it flows from self-image.
Carol: Right.
Katie: Women know that.
Carol: So it starts in yourself and it flows out. And we all know that.
Katie: So these are really guidelines for you – to look at what your internal self-image is and then, how to expose it to the world without being in exposing.
Carol: Without taking your clothes off.
Katie: I think that should be the topic. “How to be taking yourself- without taking your clothes off.”
We’ll probably get the wrong kind of followers in that.
Carol: Yes, we would.
Authentic character – Tell me a little about that in building a positive and powerful image.
Katie: If I were to ask you – “What is your image?” You’d tell me what you thought. And then I’d say, “What would other people say?”
Carol: Right.
Katie: That’s actually a nice little combination of where you see yourself – versus where are the others. And there’s probably a little bit of overlap.
But you know? Sometimes I say, “Put a lot in what others say.” We’re blind to our strengths often and our friends are the first ones that say, “Oh my, gosh! You are so good at doing this. You know, in conflict management – people in conflicts, you are the best mediator.”
Carol: Right.
Katie: You might not have had that going through your head, but to hear it from others, you want to validate that.
Carol: It is helpful to hear from others – what they think about your image.
Recently, I was in a meeting and had somebody come up to me after the meeting and say, “Wow! You were really strong in what you are doing.” And I felt…
Katie: You said, “Thank you.”
Carol: Yeah. I was like – “Well, I didn’t realize I came off that powerful.” But I had and it was a good thing. It was how I wanted to come off.
Katie: Good.
Carol: So keep in mind how other people see you, because that is your image outside. But also keep in mind what your self-image is and how you’re projecting that. You project through your posture. So that’s right.
No. And it’s not just sitting up straight, but it’s also what you’re doing with eye contact, it’s what you’re doing when you walk in a room. Are you shaking hands? Are you saying – “Hello?” Are you just sitting meekly in a corner – being a wallflower?
Be careful – because that all is how you reflect a powerful image.
Katie: Exactly. So we want you to look at that.
The other thing we want you to look at – is where are you in situations? Like you just said – you were speaking somewhere.
Where are you in situations where projecting your image is an opportunity?
I’m famous for going to networking things to hear the speaker. And I forget it’s a networking thing and I don’t have enough business cards.
Carol: Oh, right.
Katie: I thought, “Oh, just look real casual.” Because I want to hear this talking. And suddenly it’s like – “Katie – you’re amongst the community.”
Carol: “Everybody is here.”
Katie: “Well, you can’t just sneak in and listen to somebody and sneak out.”
See that as an opportunity for projecting that image and how do you want to look and blah, blah, blah – without overthinking it because we definitely want you to be you.
Carol: Right.
Katie: Were you seen or were you out there?
And then, here’s something that I think is interesting around powerful image.
Who are you seeing spending time around? Do you have an entourage that’s…? [Overlapping Conversation][0:04:14.7]
It’s like – you know, the rappers have a whole group of people around them? It kind of helps.
Carol: Oh, right. Yes.
Katie: They do that because it helps their image of being tough. So they surround themselves with tough looking people.
Carol: Interesting.
Katie: But who are you seen with? That sounds so social. But who are you seeing with? In the work environment – who do you spend your time around? Can you align yourself to some people that would rub off of you?
Carol: Yeah – help you create a powerful image.
Katie: Yes, yes.
Carol: Interesting question/thought.
Katie: And then last of all – have we talked about language?
Carol: Oh, no.
Katie: A powerful language versus meek language – (you know, the wimpy thing.) Are you projecting your self-image?
Carol: Right.
Katie: And part of the language we’d like you to consider is your self-talk.
Is your self-talk about being unsure? Is your self-talk about – “I don’t want to rollover anybody so I’m going to be more quiet.” Is your self-talk – “Oh, that sounded so stupid. I’m an idiot.”
Carol: Yes, be careful because your self-image is everything you project. It really is.
Katie: I would suggest turning your self-talk into – where am I an agent, in making things happen versus the victim.
Carol: Nice. “How can I be an agent in helping things move along? How can I be powerful in this – rather than a victim of this?”
Katie: That’s good.
Carol: Yeah.
Katie: You know, women that follow Skirt Strategies are asking for these sort of tips pretty regularly and we hope that these are helpful to you.
If you’d like to be more in contact with us – we do have a weekly email that we sent out, called – The Monday Morning Detox.
Carol: Yes.
Katie: It’s our membership subscription and it’s $8 a month. And for that – you get a small, little tidbit of training – Tiny trainings, big results every Monday morning. In line with whatever the topic for the month is. So you get 4 or 5 of them in small, little tidbit. And by the end of the month, you’re pretty well-versed in that topic. And you’ll have 12 of them by the end of a year – so it’s a 12 pack.
Carol: Yeah. The way you can connect with us is on our podcast.
Katie: Yes.
Carol: Through iTunes, Stitcher Radio and even on our website. Our podcast is there and it’s free, it’s 30 minutes of Katie and I – just going into a subject in depth.
Katie: Thanks for being with us. We hope you’ll stick with us and please follow us.
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