ATLANTA, {DATE}: In a time when womenıs power is getting more attention than ever, how is it that a man and a woman can make the same point in a meeting ­ but only the man gets heard? And that, in a recent national survey, one of the biggest problems women reported is being taken seriously?

Speakeasy, a firm that has provided communication development, coaching, and consulting to America's business leaders for over 35 years, has introduced ³The Power of a Womanıs Voice,² a short interactive program taking on the communication issues faced by executive women. Select small groups from companies including, KPMG, JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, UPS, AIG, and Northwestern Mutual recently experienced the program, leaving with steps they could put into action as soon as they returned to the office.

Program elements include how to: … Avoid being perceived as "cutesy", "flirtatious" or too unassertive to be heard. … Feel less anxious over what others may think. … Keep from giving others too much power. … Be as clear in your communication as you need to be. … Find the optimum balance between being direct (and sometimes tough) and being labeled with the 'B' word.

"Finding a powerful way to express yourself is critical to anyone, in any business... but can be particularly important to women,² says Speakeasy client Kim Martin, Executive Vice President and General Manager, We Women's Entertainment Television. The difference in Speakeasyıs approach, according to Speakeasy Instructor Alice Rutkowski is ³it isn't necessary to change either your personality or your gender to become a strong communicator. This is about learning to stand up for your ideas in a way that allows you to participate in, be heard by and ultimately influence the corporate world.²