How to enter any room at your workplace with authority and power?

As I enter the final stages in unleashing my corporate program that will radically uplevel women career progression within organizations, I have had to undergo a self development journey to be ready. As I get ready to enter boardrooms and CEO cabins to bring my pivotal work into organizations, I sit and think about 6 months before. I was not this confident self assuring woman who felt she had it in her to be in such rooms with power and authority. I felt like a timid girl who was out there to see how she can please someone in that room to be felt as seen and heard. And today I am a woman who knows what she is made of, what she brings to any room and any table and who freaking believes in the transformational work she does.

You may ask me now, “What changed?”

To answer simply, I can say “The way I look at my self and others”.

If we go deeper, then this change comes from working with my mentor where I realised I had some inhibitors that were dampening my radiance, passion and skill in this work. I wanted to share them with you as the impact has been exponential for me. 

So hold on to your seats, this ride is wild and needs you to be open to knowing and receiving your own magic with open arms and heart.

1. When someone has invited you to a room, this itself means you have some value to add. Start treating these invitations as assurance of the quality of work and inputs you bring. When you hold invitations with this prowess, you are unshakeable.
   

2. When I have to enter a room, the time I prep the most is on my non negotiables. What are some values and insights I am not ready to negotiate come what may inside this room? When I know this and strongly embody it, I am ready to enter any room with authority.
   

3. What has been a game changer is integrating the philosophy, “All of us are equal”. It has taken a whole new level of inside work to actually believe in this statement. When I do not keep anyone on a pedestal when I enter a room, rather feel everyone of us is equal irrespective of the ‘job title’, the freshness of energy of this is unimaginable. Simply put, you have no pressure or carry no baggage to prove or stand out.
   
   One of the ways in which I am embodying this belief - Whenever I meet someone known or unknown, I tell myself ‘She/he/they and I are equal’. I let that sink inside my entire body and then look into their eyes and give the biggest smile to that person with this belief. Sometimes they smile back, sometimes they are amused and sometimes they plain ignore. But the feeling I get inside me after my smile feels so explosively powerful. Strengthens my belief of all of us being equal with every smile :)
   
   Try it. And let me know how you feel.
   

4. Lastly, I believe in the magic I bring to organizations, teams, individuals and the entire organization culture. This is my real secret. This is my real authority. This is my real foundation.
   
   If you don’t feel you have magic or you do not believe in what you bring to rooms, ask for guidance. I would love to play this game of finding your magic and building that potential with you. Reply to this email if you need guidance.

I love studying women who have shown grit and risen up the ladders in their field. One thing which stands out about these women is that they were not afraid of being in powerful rooms. Rather they embraced these rooms with their own grace and identity. Sharing two such females who inpsire me always.

Emma Watson

The little girl of Harry Potter who never felt little in any of the rooms she entered. Emma has been on huge award shows, in rooms with the biggest political names and has worked with the UN Women. Take a look at her interviews or speeches and you will know what I am talking about. She knows who she is and she owns it with pride in any room that she is. People cannot help but notice her being in a room.

Mithali Raj

Known as the Tendulkar of the Women Cricketing World, Mithali has some astounding records in her name. She has been in rooms with the popular titans of male cricket players. And if you see the way she holds herself, it feels like a fortress.

All of us are equal to these two women. If they can do it, so can we. The only question is ‘how’ and this newsletter should help you start that journey of yours!

Next time you enter a room know that, “You are worth it. You deserve to be in there. Your magic is needed”.

Share it with a friend or colleague whose magic needs to enter rooms without self doubt.

Much Love,
Pradnya

PS: Want to work with me and break through your gender inhibitors at work, I have two programs for you:

1. Get Unstuck
   1 majestic 2 hours deep dive to identify why you feel stuck in your career culminating into an impactful professional goal plan.
   

2. Elevate X - Elevating Women’s Careers 
   This is a program for driven, hungry and inspired career oriented women like you where we:

• Expand your career identity.
  The shifts I am experiencing with this work is phenomenal and I want to bring the same to you.

• Building an authority and persona where you stand out in any room you enter at work. Creating a unique you proposition at work.
  This work helps people to remember you and your niche.

• Cultivating mindsets and internal capabilities to embrace your gender positioning, driving your confidence to apply and step into higher leadership roles within the C Suite setting.
  This is the most potent and transformational shift you will experience in your career journey.

Hit reply, to know more!