Chapter TenStrengthen Your Language

When I meet women who have come to our firm for coaching, one of the questions I typically ask is, “How do you feel about your ability to project confidence?” I still remember one woman named Sarah who replied enthusiastically that she now sounds so much more confident than she once did.

As she put it, “A few years back I was perhaps that very apologetic, very cautious female who was always trying to lighten things rather than sounding sure of myself. Recently I have definitely tried to be more forthright, and I think I am sounding more confident, though I am not sure.” I was pleased she felt she had progressed so much, but as you can see from her response, her language still showed considerable tentativeness. ...

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