Diminishing words

Challenging myself and the women I know to speak up at work without hedging, apologizing, qualifying or undermining for a week and see how it feels. 

My aspiration is that one day women can simply focus on doing their work well without the distraction of people pleasing tendencies. I say this with full awareness and compassion for the deep roots of historical conditioning: when women lack physical, financial, or legal power, the approval of others is essential to survival. 

But, careers depend on how you highlight your competence, not just your likeability.  So let's start with the way we talk. Let's look within and speak with confidence, knowing we have just as much right to sit at the table, to share ideas and to make meaningful contributions. We don't have to shrink and hide our brilliance to make others comfortable in the presence of a strong, intelligent woman.  #challengeyourself