Why Smart, Capable Women Freeze (and What to Do About It)

I sit down with negotiation expert Attia Qureshi to break down why smart, capable women freeze in high-stakes conversations, and the science-backed techniques that get you unstuck. Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter  You're in a meeting, or a salary conversation, or a moment where you need to advocate for yourself. You know exactly what to say. You've practiced it. And then the moment comes, and you freeze. That's not a confidence problem or a competence problem. It's a biological response, and it's costing smart, capable women the raises, the promotions, and the seats at the table they've already earned. In this episode, negotiation and influence expert Attia Qureshi joins me to break down exactly what happens in your body when you freeze, why it hits women differently, and what to do about it, both in the moment and long before you ever walk into the room. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN The exact biological reason your brain goes blank under pressure, and why the fog lasts longer for women than for men The breathing pattern Attia uses to calm her nervous system in seconds, with no one able to tell she's doing it What to do in the two minutes after you've already frozen, so you can get back in the room Why women get labeled difficult for the same directness that reads as confident in men, and the framing that works instead The internal negotiation most women skip, and how putting it off for years can cost you two raises instead of one RESOURCES MENTIONED Attia Qureshi's free guide, Why You Freeze: attiaqureshi.com/freeze   Attia Qureshi's free Emotion Wheel tool: attiaqureshi.com/emotionwheel Attia Qureshi's book, Never Settle: Persuasion and Negotiation Skills to get what you want: amazon.ca/Never-Settle-Persuasion-Negotiation-Skills/dp/1668070375  Connect with Attia on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/attiaq Sheryl Sandberg’s book Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead: amazon.ca/Lean-Women-Work-Will-Lead/dp/0385349947  Connect with Katy on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/katy-mcfee-3880b4a Weekly newsletter: morewomenpromoted.com/newsletter  Curious what it’s like to work together? Send me a message on LinkedIn or Instagram (Katy McFee) and tell me what you are working toward, and we can take it from there. Not sure if you're ready for VP? Take the free assessment and find out at morewomenpromoted.com/quiz Remember, there's room for all of us at the table.