219: How to Encourage Women Leaders to Speak Up with Carla Miller

Happier At Work®

In this week's episode of the Happier at Work podcast, I was thrilled to be joined by renowned women's leadership coach, Carla Miller. Carla shared invaluable insights and practical strategies for women leaders facing challenges in the workplace, drawing from her own experiences and her mission to empower women to speak up and influence effectively in boardrooms.

Carla emphasised the impact of gender bias on confidence, highlighting the effects of imposter syndrome and the lack of self-belief on women's ability to contribute in high-stakes environments. She encouraged a shift in mindset, urging individuals to focus on their strengths and contributions before speaking in challenging meetings.

One of the key issues Carla discussed was the challenge of being interrupted in meetings, particularly for women. She provided strategies for managing interruptions and finding opportunities to speak up, including utilising allies and the powerful strategy of amplification.

Carla also emphasised the importance of integrating body language tools and the "cloak of authority" to feel more in control in challenging situations. She delved into the use of questions and provoking questions as powerful communication tools, and the significance of delivering feedback upwards in a diplomatic and solution-focused manner.

Furthermore, Carla addressed the use of language qualifiers in communication and provided actionable advice on how women can communicate more effectively, highlighting the importance of body language and ending contributions with confidence.

The main points throughout this podcast include:

• The impact of gender bias on confidence.
• Strategies for managing interruptions and finding opportunities to speak up.
• The importance of integrating body language tools and the "cloak of authority" to feel more in control in challenging situations.
• The significance of delivering feedback upwards in a diplomatic and solution-focused manner.
• The importance of body language and ending contributions with confidence.

Do you have any feedback or thoughts on this discussion? If so, please connect with Aoife via the links below and let her know. Aoife would love to hear from you!

Connect with Carla:

LinkedIn

Website

Instagram

Connect with Happier at Work host Aoife O’Brien:

Website

LinkedIn

YouTube

Previous Episodes:

https://happieratwork.ie/take-radical-responsibility-of-your-career-with-carla-miller/

https://happieratwork.ie/213-how-can-women-find-fulfillment-and-success-at-work-with-rebecca-muriuki/

https://happieratwork.ie/210-how-can-you-lead-with-empathy-and-work-to-your-strengths-with-jacqui-jagger/

202: Leveraging Strengths and Setting Boundaries with Lucy Gernon

https://happieratwork.ie/207-gender-equality-and-inclusive-leadership-with-robert-baker/

Mentioned in this episode:

Imposter Identity

Imposter Identity