The Victoria Napolitano Bookstore Pretty, Powerful & Polite written by Victoria | Page 7

Be:
Pretty. Powerful. Polite
Powerful
This is one of the most important of the P’s. Being
powerful doesn’t mean being angry or aggressive,
it’s just the opposite. Being powerful means being
in control. It means you have a confidence about
you. It also means you are observant. their tone and annunciate their words. Most times
this is accompanied by a tone and cadence that
is lower than the loud, attention-seeking counter-
part rushing around the room.
There are three basic must-do behaviors a wom-
an, who wants and demands power, needs to have: Powerful people tend to be sincere. They won’t
lie to your face just to look good or avoid hurting
your feelings. They will be honest and upfront.
But they will do it in such a polite and articulate
way, that you will be able to receive it without be-
ing offended. For instance, a business opportunity
arises and the “Powerful” person in you is asked
if you are interested. Let’s say the opportunity is a
chain of car washes where women in Daisy Dukes
shorts wash the cars. You have no interest, how-
ever, like most people you feel obligated to say,
“Yes”. So not wanting to offend, you agree to get
involved. Then, later when the potential partner
in the Daisy Dukes enterprise calls you avoid him
until eventually he stops calling.
1. Punctuality
Being punctual means you take being on time se-
riously. It is a priority and not a second thought.
In being late and rushing you have given the pow-
er to whoever you are meeting.
They will look at you with disapproval or plain
disrespect. Giving excuses may mediate your late-
ness, but be aware most people will remember
and it won’t be a positive memory
2. Speaking
Speaking fast or over people doesn’t demonstrate
power or control. It demonstrates the exact op-
posite. Being powerful is all about control. Look
back at a party or meeting you attended. The per-
son speaking fast and rushing around the room
appears to be reckless and intrusive. While others
are engaged in intellectual conversations or ex-
changing pleasantries—she appears out of control
and that diminishes her perceived value.
Now think about powerful CEO’s you have met.
Chances are they are cool, calm and collected.
They speak clearly, they are on point about the
topic and they have a comfortab le cadence that
speaks of confidence and power. They manage
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3. Sincerity
A powerful person will be professional and polite
(we will hit on Polite in the next section). Say-
ing something like, “that adventure sounds like a
blast, but it is out of my skill set. I do wish you
the best of luck.” Stop there! Do not promise you
will pass the information on or give the details to
friends. Just end it without embellishment. Giving
people false hope is dishonest. To you the venture
may seem like a joke, but the person invested in
the idea, may think it’s the greatest concept to
come along in the decades. So, always be polite
and professional.
Victoria Napolitano
VNSN.TV