Katie Couric and the Perky Problem
Why is there so much concern about Katie Couric moving to the evening news? The problem is that she’s considered too “perky”.
Perky women have problems being taken seriously because their quick and friendly approach makes them seem less thoughtful than their quieter colleagues. Perky people can be very serious, but they feel that it’s important to keep the atmosphere light and friendly.
If you’re a perky person, you may be concerned that people you work with are not taking you seriously. Fortunately, there are some slight adjustments you can make to help other people see you in a different way.
Facts vs Feelings - Perky people tend to focus more on Feelings. They may share their feelings more quickly and be concerned about other how other people are feeling. Their faces and body language show their emotions.
In order to look more serious, perky people may want to control their facial expressions and smile less. They may also want to limit the personal information they share with other people.
Thinking vs Action - Perky people tend to be more Action-oriented. They talk and act quickly. This may give the impression that they don’t take time to thoroughly think through what they do. In fact, they just may think very fast.
If you want to look more serious, take more time before you answer a question or take action. Add more pauses to your conversation and let people know that you need some time to think the information over.
You can get a full list of suggestions in the book, “Why Can’t You Communicate Like Me? How Smart Women Get Results At Work”. You don’t need to change who you are, however, you may want to make small changes in how you communicate so people will take you seriously and pay attention to what you have to say.
Laura Browne is the perky author of a practical & easy-to-use book for women, Why Can’t You Communicate Like Me? How Smart Women Get Results At Work. To register for Laura’s Free Teleconferences, go to http://www.getheardatwork.com (This book is available at the website and at Barnes & Noble online.)
When Laura isn’t writing, she helps women be more successful through WOMEN Unlimited, a nationally recognized resource for cultivating leadership excellence, http://www.women-unlimited.com
