Here are my takeaways from the first chapter: Your name and your multitudes are your power of the book “The Life Lessons Of Kamala Harris: How to use your voice, be assertive and own your story by Hitha Palepu“
Hitha wrote this book to help the readers be braver, stronger, kinder, and more confident. Also to claim their power, with hope to inspire and guide them to get back on track with their amazing lives.
Remember: shoulder back, chin up, and deep breath. Posture helps you feel confident.
Know and own the power of your name. To create an inclusive workspace, it is important to learn how to pronounce your coworkers names. Ask how I pronounce your name. This question tells another person, “I see you. I honour you. I respect you.” Repeating the person’s name throughout the conversation can help you master the pronunciation.
Speak your name with pride. It carries great power. It is your history and your identity. If your name is mispronounced, ask to correct it with grace, dignity, and a firm look.
Here is a very interesting video about mispronounced names: https://fb.watch/aA-YhgjVyp/
If you are interrupted, cut it off with a knowing smile and a curt “I am speaking”.
Filter constructive criticism from childish taunts and shallow insults. Childish taunts and insults say more about those who speak them than they will ever say about you.
Believe in yourself. You self-believe that this is an armour that shields you from the negativity that comes to you.
If you are not feeling confident, borrow the confidence others have in you until you begin to believe and own it for yourself. Keep a record of all the messages, emails, texts, etc., showcasing the wonderful things people tell you about yourself (called the hype file). Review the file whenever a boost is needed and go to win the challenge ahead of you.
Everyone has multiple aspects of life. Learn to guide others in how they perceive you. Guide others to feel and see you fully but also focus on the specific aspects of your personality and background you want to highlight.
Put yourself in someone else’s shoes to understand how they see you and then by guiding them on how to see you, you can reframe a potentially negative perspective. Ask questions to understand how you can be perceived negatively, and then proactively address those concerns. E.g., ask investors to share their previous most successful investments or ask about their goals, and then use that information to make sure you are portrayed in the way that you can be viewed best in their eyes.
Shrug off the people who try to minimize you. Know exactly who you are and what you stand for and it will give you the strength to bring yourself to the world and ignore the people who can’t see your worth.
Carve out time for thinking. Prioritize your to-do list and de-prioritize the items that do not bring you closer to your goal. Be ruthless in your prioritization. Ask yourself, “Is it the best and most effective use of my time?” before starting anything.
Make time for play. Play is not a waste of time. It teaches you many things and you can also use it as a topic for discussion with others.
If something is bothering you, “do something about it”. Don’t try to blame it on someone or ignore the issue. Don’t wait for someone else to take the lead; start making things happen on your own. Doing something about the thing does not mean that you personally have to fix the issue; it is also about how you show up for others, for example, by standing up with others to support them, guide them, or create opportunities for them.
