Maybe you already know that women are less likely to be promoted to leadership positions compared to their male counterparts—the data is clear on this. But did you know that “poor communication skills are a contributing factor” (McKinsey, Women in the Workplace Report, 2023)?
It’s clear that communication matters for your career, but are you clear what communication habits are holding you back?
I’ve worked with hundreds of women in leadership, or those who want to be, and the consistent obstacle I see standing in the way of them rising to their career potential is the way they speak.
There are six common communication habits that can detract from our authority, integrity, and effectiveness as women in leadership. In this article I’ll share with you what they are and the impacts they have on our leadership. Then I’ll share what action you can take to eliminate weak language habits, learn to speak the Language of Leadership, and transform your career.
Here are the six communication habits holding women back:
1 – Lacking Integrity When Making Requests
Do you find it hard to make direct requests?
Examples: Saying ‘Could you maybe get this done by the end of the day?’ instead of ‘Please complete this by the end of the day.’
Impact: Your team often doesn’t take your requests seriously or fails to prioritize them because they perceive them as optional.
2 – Lacking Clarity and Directness When Giving Instructions
Are your instructions often vague or indirect?
Examples: Saying ‘It would be great if we could start working on this project soon’ instead of ‘Let’s start working on this project tomorrow.’
Impact: Your team frequently asks for clarification or misunderstands your directions, leading to delays and errors.
3 – Over-Apologizing
Do you apologize more than necessary?
Examples: Saying ‘I’m sorry, but I need you to…’ or ‘Sorry to bother you, but…’
Impact: You may come across as lacking confidence or authority, which can undermine your leadership presence.
4 – Use of Mincing Modifiers
Do you use words that weaken your statements?
Examples: Saying ‘I just think’ or ‘maybe we could’ instead of ‘I believe’ or ‘Let’s do this.’
Impact: Your statements may be perceived as tentative or unsure, reducing the impact of your communication.
5 – Lacking Structure
Is your communication disorganized?
Examples: Jumping between topics in a single conversation or email, and not having a clear point or conclusion.
Impact: People often look confused or need to follow up for clarification, which can waste time and cause frustration.
6 – Indirectness When Giving Feedback
Are you uncomfortable giving direct feedback?
Examples: Saying ‘It might be better if you tried it this way’ instead of ‘You need to do it this way to achieve better results.’
Impact: The recipient may not fully understand your feedback, leading to repeated mistakes, a lack of improvement, and decreased morale.
Are you ready to transform the way you communicate and unlock your leadership potential?
If any of these habits sound familiar, you’re not alone—and more importantly, you can change them. The way we communicate can either hold us back or propel us forward. Imagine what it would be like to speak with the authority and confidence that commands respect, to give clear instructions that are followed without hesitation, and to provide feedback that drives real change in your people.
This is the power of learning the Language of Leadership.
“Before taking this course, I struggled with speaking up in meetings and felt like my voice was never really heard. Now, I confidently lead discussions, and my ideas are finally getting the attention they deserve.” — Elena, Nonprofit Executive
In our course, Communicate with Confidence, you’ll gain the tools and techniques to overcome these communication barriers. We’ll work with you to eliminate weak language habits, replace them with empowered communication styles, and transform your leadership perspective so you can rise to your career potential.
If you’re ready to take control of your career and communicate like the leader you are, I invite you to join us. Together we’ll update your LLM so that you speak the Language of Leadership.
Click here to learn more and enroll today.
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