Wherever you go, you meet them. Strong women are in every town on the planet and comprise a diverse group. She can be anything and anyone she wants to be, so you’d better not tell her otherwise.
From your Grandma who won’t take any backtalk to Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, strong women are the backbone of the world. They bring the next generation into being, and the weight of that tremendous responsibility rests on their strong shoulders.
Strong women are empowered, accountable, visionary, resilient, and have high integrity. You’re dealing with a superwoman, and with that comes super responsibility. She has a long to-do list and works harder than anyone you know to get everything done.
When to Just Be Quiet
A strong woman always values your input. She respects your opinion, although she may not always agree with you. She’d instead work with you than against you, so, like a lawyer, she’s always prepared with her opening argument to help you see things from her perspective. If you can’t see eye to eye, you’d better get out of her way.
Some things are better left unsaid, whether you know a strong woman or are one. Telling her any of these ten things are going to escalate the conversation rapidly.
Here are nine things to never tell a strong woman:
1. “Just stop.”
You can’t stop a strong woman, so why try? You might want her to finish if she’s in the middle of something. Whether venting her feelings or working overtime on a project, she has energy and will use it. If she’s hard at work, ask if she wants help or get out of her way.
If you tell her to stop and she’s midstream in speaking, that will be seen as rude. Tell your strong woman that when she’s had her say, you’d like to add your views, and she’s more likely to wonder what’s on your mind. She’ll stop and let you have your turn.
2. “What were you thinking?”
Even if you think she should have done things differently, this is certainly not how to get your point across. It comes off as accusatory, and a strong woman will likely take a defensive position in response. She had several thoughts on the matter, and now you can hear them all.
3. “You’re crazy.”
She may be emotional and you might not like it, but she’s not crazy. Strong women speak and act with strength and conviction. Interpreting her actions as crazy was an error in judgment on your part.
4. “You can’t.”
This one might be a good motivator if you need her to do something because a strong woman will fight to do what she’s been told can’t be done. Just because you think it can’t be done doesn’t mean she can’t do it. She’s likely to show you a lot of “can do” attitude and back it up with action.
5. “Why can’t you be more like __?”
Because she’s a strong individual woman like no other. So quit comparing her to anyone else. Strong women hold themselves to their standards. She’s unlike your old boss, girlfriend, lover, mother, sister, aunt or friend.
A strong woman can change, but she’ll do it for herself, not for you. Never tell her to be someone that she’s not.
6. “Get your priorities straight.”
Her priorities are on her mind constantly. A strong woman puts first things first. Just because you aren’t her priority right now does not mean she isn’t focused on what is most important.
7. “You don’t need that.”
As if you’ve never bought something just because you wanted it. A strong woman has the right to something that she wants. She probably even knows exactly how her budget can afford the purchase. Just let her enjoy it and bask in the glow of her smile. Even better, note her preferences and get it for her next time.
8. “You ask too many questions.”
Strong women ask because they need to know. Whether it’s to inform her of strong opinions or to clarify what you said, never tell her to stop asking questions. She has a mind to learn, and telling her to stop won’t limit her inquiring mind.
9. “Calm down.”
It’s like poking an angry bear, throwing gasoline on a fire, and pulling the pin on a grenade simultaneously. If you thought she wasn’t upset, you haven’t seen anything yet. The strong woman to whom you just said this will show you some powerful emotions.
You should handle this differently. You might try “You seem very passionate about this” or “What do you think we should do about it?” Diverting her energy to focusing on a solution is fine as long as she’s had time to express herself fully.
Final Thoughts on the Things You Never Tell a Strong Woman
Now that you are armed with what never to say to a strong woman, what do you say instead? How about “I love the strong woman that you are. I support you and want to help you accomplish your goals.” That might leave her speechless.
