A-Z of Communication: Audacity

Audacity

If authenticity is the heart of our communication, then Audacity—the second A in my A-Z of Confident, Compassionate Communication—is the fire that propels us into conversations.

Some might misconstrue the word with arrogance or recklessness, but through my lens, audacity is the boldness and confidence to express ourselves with clarity, conviction and purpose. It’s essential for us to break societal norms to drive meaningful change. We all have our own unique perspective on the world, and audacity ensures that our voices are amplified and heard.

For centuries, women have been conditioned to be agreeable, soft- spoken, and non-confrontational; we’ve been discouraged from expressing bold opinions or asserting ourselves in the workplace. We need audacity—the ability to speak fearlessly, advocate for ourselves, and challenge these outdated expectations—as a powerful tool for change.

Did you know that statistics tell us that women are three times more likely to be interrupted than a man? Our voices are less likely to be taken as confident and authoritative, and when we do express an idea, it’s likely that it’ll be ignored until a man repeats it and gets the credit - the “hepeating” phenomenon. This harsh truth highlights the need to confidently express our voices and stand by our ideas.

When we communicate with boldness, we are able to challenge restrictive gender prejudices and redefine leadership, influence, and authority. In the workplace, audacious communication spurs us on to negotiate our salary, demand respect, and assert our ideas without hesitation. We push back constructively and assertively, and say no when asked to do something we don’t want to do. And most importantly, we take up our space and don’t shrink to make others feel better. This way we can challenge the stereotypes that are flung at us, that assertiveness is bossy or aggressive; that rather than being strong we’re difficult and intimidating; and to admit to being ambitious is a dirty word.

Today, I reflect on the incredible women who came before us —those I’ve known personally, and those in the public eye who have inspired me —who fought so that our lives as women are a bit easier. Now the torch passes to us: to become the role models for those who follow, and to carefully construct the legacy we wish to build, encouraging the younger generation by creating a ripple effect that transforms societal expectations.

As an artist once sung “Every man is a son to a daughter...” This profound truth reminds us that our influence extends beyond just women—it shapes humanity itself.

So as we commemorate International Women’s Day, let’s use our audacious voices as instruments of resistance and empowerment, to challenge the status quo, reshape the narrative and dismantle biases so that we make sure that we are heard, our worth is recognised, and our presence is respected in every space we enter.