TOTALIMPACT.E PROGRAM
Assertiveness
Effectiveness
Physical posture
Power dressing
Vocal placement
Global vision
Speak to inspire
Influence and networking
The impact is total
What is imperfect becomes real here;
What cannot be described
is accomplished here;
The eternal feminine lifts us.
Faust – Goethe
RIXAIN LAW :
A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN OR REINFORCING THE IMPOSTER SYNDROME ?
The glass ceiling in corporate power was reinforced. France took action and opened a breach with the so-called “Copé-Zimmermann” law, which since 2011 has required large companies to appoint at least 40% women to their boards of directors and supervisory boards. While quotas in the governance of very large companies have clearly had an effect, there has not been the expected “trickle-down” to lower levels, in management positions, and especially in SMEs. In 2020, only a quarter of companies had near parity in their top ten highest-paid positions.
The Rixain law of 2021 completes the framework. Article 14 of law No. 2021-1774 of December 24, 2021, aims to accelerate economic and professional equality and creates an obligation for balanced representation between women and men among executive managers and members of management bodies in companies, accompanied by a transparency obligation.
The goal is to impose quotas in companies with more than 1,000 employees, requiring 30% of female executive managers and 30% of female members of management bodies by 2027, and then reaching 40% female executive managers by 2030. These companies will have a maximum of two years, starting from 2027 and then from 2030, to comply with the quotas, under the threat of a financial penalty (up to 1% of the payroll).. (Source viepublique.fr)
It’s a paradox, but organizations often struggle to convince women of their own legitimacy for high-level positions: because the impression of having reached those positions solely to fulfill quotas prevails. Affirmative action is a divisive topic and moderately legitimized in French public opinion. This tends to exacerbate the impostor syndrome, which affects both women and men, but is felt more intensely by women. The legislator’s intention is good, especially since these measures are still effective in quantitative terms. The remaining issues are the qualitative aspects: the suspicion of incompetence in the name of egalitarianism, the scent of favoritism at the expense of deserving male competitors…
Is the deal worth it ? Women find themselves once again confronted with the shame… of being helped, while deserving to be.
But the opportunity is here: to free oneself from shame, accept the deal, and take the lead, with the TOTALIMPACT.E program !
TOTALIMPACT.E PROGRAM
The TOTALIMPACT.E program aims to unlock and bring out your leadership potential, through
6 transformative modules.
MODULE 1 : DISSOLVING SHAME INTO EFFECTIVENESS
Leadership requires putting oneself forward, stepping out of the shadows, motivated by the sense of one’s mission, a mission that goes beyond oneself. Leadership is having a deep, long-term vision and knowing how to communicate it to inspire. It’s about assuming the responsibility of guiding the future of others, with the means to do so.
In leadership, you naturally take the center stage, in the light, in the midst of a crowd that looks at you and that you look in the eye. There is no room for shame. Shame must be shattered.
Everyday discomforts, but also rumination, self-censorship, and unease: the cost of our shames (more or less admitted) is time-consuming and often fatal for legitimate professional ambitions.
Shame, this mixture of fear and sadness, is a socially constructed emotion. It is an internalization of others’ gaze. It regulates interpersonal relationships for the better (not causing harm to others, conformity, and belonging to the group, civility, respect) and for the worse (self-censorship, repressive taboos, scapegoating, and collective humiliation).
While it is true that shame is universally instilled from the cradle, regardless of gender, women have always been its most privileged targets throughout history. It is necessary to confront it. It is urgent to stop feeling guilty. And at the same time, it is crucial to take responsibility and take action to release one’s power to act. This power to act will then follow the laws of effectiveness at work.
GREAT UNSPOKEN EMBARASSMENTS at work : TEST YOURSELF !
In this module, you will:
- Acquire tools for self-awareness and your deep identity.
- Distance yourself from the gaze of others.
- Strengthen self-confidence and self-esteem, and develop assertiveness and pride.
- Conduct an audit of your work-life balance.
- Apply the most effective tools for workplace efficiency.
At the end of this module, you will be ready for the first transformation: aligning your look and posture with your values and gaining immediate visibility.
MODULE 2 : DEEPEN YOUR APPEARANCE
An internal monologue of a businesswoman preparing for a presentation :
So, how do I dress for this meeting? Well, it’s simple: I want to look professional and credible, show that I’m a leader, but without looking like a man in a suit and tie. I want to be feminine, but not to the point of sparking a debate about office attire. I want to be myself, but I also have to fit the codes of the profession. And then, I want to have style… By the way, what is my style? Well, anyway, I have nothing to wear, everything makes me look older… at the same time, I can’t look too young either… Help, I’m in the middle of a wardrobe disaster!!!
Appearance matters greatly for both men and women. The first impression is formed within the first few fractions of a second of an interaction. It influences both the short and long term.
For a woman, the issue of appearance is complicated by contradictory and multiplied norms and expectations (see my blog post “Women leaders : beware of the first impression!“). Even before speaking, the first impression will rely on the gaze, the smile, physical posture, clothing style, and also makeup, hairstyle…
Women in positions of responsibility are generally expected to conform to beauty standards and trends, while neutralizing an excess of femininity that would hinder credibility. The clothing style, through the cut, colors, fabrics, and accessories (shoes, bags, jewelry, etc.), must reflect the status, norms, and practices of the profession. But the clothing style must also be authentic, as clothing reflects one’s values. The overall style must be stable in order to consolidate positioning over time. Finally, the outfit, especially for public speaking, must be comfortable enough to free up gestures and not constrain posture.
Physical posture is also fundamental in expressing assertiveness. Postural work starts with the face, focusing on the gaze (with or without glasses), the smile, and expressions, then moves to the hands and feet, ultimately bringing balance and reinforcement on the following 3 axes :
- head position – spine – ground support
- shoulders – chest – hips
- diaphragm – perineum
In this module, you build an assertive physical posture that is both authentic and pragmatic.
You create a leader’s wardrobe and you know how to :
- choose what flatters you (colors, cuts),
- create a style aligned with your values,
- know what to wear to amplify your impact,
- strengthen self-confidence and self-esteem through your outfit.
Your authentic leadership is embodied and visible! Your appearance reflects your deep identity and contributes to being heard.
MODULE 3: ORCHESTRATE YOUR VOICE
In human communication, impact relies on coherence (linguistically known as congruence) between non-verbal elements (the body) and verbal expression (what is said). The voice, through its form—timbre, rhythm, articulation quality, tone, variety, and resonance—constitutes 40% of non-verbal communication. It is, therefore, a powerful asset for leadership expression and can be cultivated!
This module aims to support women in mastering and enriching their voices. Studies show that women are interrupted more frequently in professional meetings than men. They also face the phenomenon of vocal overlapping, where a deeper, louder voice speaks over them, undermining their credibility. Additionally, women often encounter pressure to conform to communication norms deemed “appropriate,” which can lead to self-censorship or hesitation in expressing ideas with confidence and authority. Social expectations may push them to adopt a softer or less assertive tone, thereby reducing the impact of their message.
These challenges require targeted and strategic support, as the power of a woman’s voice must balance cultural expectations to ensure its effectiveness.
In this module, you will :
- position your voice and define your vocal identity.
- learn breathing, breath control, rhythm, and articulation techniques to maximize vocal clarity and precision.
- develop a rich and varied vocal palette to combine authentic emotion with impact.
- strengthen your vocal power while taking care of your voice.
Your authentic leadership is both embodied and heard. Your voice becomes engaging and inspiring.
MODULE 4 : DARE TO LEAD WITH YOUR IDEAS !
Leadership is about inspiring your teams, clients, and internal and external partners with a clear, engaging, and mobilizing vision.
To develop and refine your vision, a methodical and thoughtful approach is essential. We offer a methodology enriched by various tools drawn from multiple complementary disciplines :
- Logical Thinking : Develop a structured and rigorous thought process to articulate clear and persuasive arguments.
- Analogical Thinking : Foster creative thinking through associations and comparisons to generate innovative insights.
- Self-Learning : Discover techniques to continuously expand your knowledge in limited time, recognize cognitive biases, and cultivate a broad and evolving perspective.
- Design Thinking : Place humans at the center of problem-solving through brainstorming, real-world testing, and feedback integration.
- Disruptive Thinking : Develop bold and unconventional solutions to tackle complex challenges, particularly in high-pressure situations.
- Critical Thinking : Analyze and assess your assumptions to make well-informed and strategic decisions.
- Artistic Creation : Engage in guided artistic expression (visual arts, writing, theater) and explore masterpieces of artistic heritage to enhance emotional intelligence and sensory perception.
In this module, we will address the following key questions :
- What defines visionary thinking ?
- What is your personal and professional vision ?
- How can you refine and deepen this vision ?
- How can you structure it for maximum impact ?
By mastering the tools provided, you will be able to independently transform your intuitions into concrete ideas. Your creativity will be enhanced, enabling you to make quick and effective decisions.
MODULE 5 : SPEAK UP AND HOLD YOUR GROUND
Silencing, manterrupting, mansplaining, bropropriating, shaming, vocal overshadowing, reinforcing jokes, and even emotional manipulation—the obstacles to women’s speech are numerous, both external and internal.
But at this stage of your training, you are assertive (module 1), your authentic look is radiant, your posture is aligned (module 2), your voice is impactful and captivating (module 3). You have deepened, enriched, and structured your vision as a leader (module 4).
Your voice matters. Make it heard. Be listened to, and never be interrupted again !
In this module, you will acquire essential techniques to :
- deliver your vision to diverse audiences and inspire engagement
- defend your vision, because if it has impact, it will inevitably be challenged
Our methodology benefits from insights from neuroscience and AI. It draws its best tools from argumentation, debate, questioning techniques, public speaking, crisis management, conflict resolution, as well as the art of conversation, repartee, and eloquence.
We reveal the best-kept secrets of impactful speaking.
MODULE 6: LADIES, BE NETWORK-ABLE 😊
From impactful public speaking to influence, there is, however, a crucial step to take. This is precisely the step that women, on average, do not take.
It has been observed that women devote significantly less time and energy to networking than their male counterparts. Several factors can explain this, such as multiple time-consuming professional and personal obligations, persistent impostor syndrome, the lack of female role models in certain industries, and even a certain distrust towards networking. Yet, a vision only becomes influential if it is spread beyond direct circles !
In this module, you will :
- clarify your position regarding social networks.
- strengthen your networking skills.
- integrate the networking mindset through a daily routine.
- build an inclusive support and mentorship community.
Equipped to establish lasting professional relationships and widely share your vision, you now have the keys to sustainable influence.
At the end of the six modules of the TOTALIMPACT.E program,
you will apply an interpersonal communication strategy that is authentic, coherent, and inspiring :
THE IMPACT IS TOTAL.