Learning To Be Strong – Dare To Build Your Daring Muscles

I think we’ve all faced a time in our lives where we have had to be tough as nails to accomplish the task at hand. For some of us, that is even our day-to-day lives. Goals, deadlines, responsibilities – having to stand proud is not new to modern business women. The truth is simply this: We cannot be afraid to stand up in our power and be acknowledged for what we believe in. Our passions, and our individual missions, simply won’t accept any less.

As a life and business strategist, coach and mentor, I am always excited to work with a female entrepreneur or executive who is poised at the brink of something amazing and new. It’s almost as if I can hear the click click click of the roller coaster she’s on, climbing to the top, ready to swoosh forward with speed and excitement. As Daring women, we have the opportunity to empower one another to go for it – to take that ride and move forward strongly into our dreams.

Business and personal success sometimes demand that we become virtual chameleons, able to change our colors to match our surroundings. Personally, I would prefer to be warm and hospitable whenever I can, but there are those times that nothing will do but full-fledge confidence. For some of us, being a confidence chameleon means “acting as if” and actually pretending at first, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Here’s a few tips to help you get started in building your daring muscles.

1. Set the stage. Usually situations that need a stronger stance don’t pop up out of nowhere. So spend a few days preparing for that all-important meeting or conference call. Make notes to help you be more comfortable. Who’s going to be there? What are the issues at hand? What are your important points, arguments and considerations? Most importantly, what is your desired outcome? Remember, the other person is not your enemy – they’re just interested in their own agenda, whatever that is. So stay focused and stay on purpose.

2. State what you want in a clear, firm, non-negotiable way, and state it often. Human beings love a puzzle, and everyone in the room will, simply by nature of being human, be busy solving the puzzle at hand. If you keep making your ultimate goal the main objective, it’s likely that getting there will be the focus of their thoughts as well.

3. Don’t respond. Sometimes the best response in a tough situation or difficult negotiation or meeting is not to have one. Sit silently and confidently and wait. The first person to talk looses. Most people are very uncomfortable with silence… so they will feel compelled to start talking… let them!!. When prompted you can simply say, “I need to consider what you’ve said.” And then repeat your ultimate goal to everyone on hand.

The bottom line is this. You are a strong, independent, daring woman – and what you need is vitally important. It isn’t something to be pushed aside to accommodate others, and it isn’t something to lose sight of just because the road to fruition may be uncomfortable. And remember, like working out and building “outside” muscles, growing your confidence and powerful self may take a little practice. So dare yourself to be a strong woman! You – and your dreams – are worth the effort.

Francine Allaire is a Life and Business Strategist, Certified Dream Coach