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332: How to Handle Being Misunderstood-3 steps to being understood and stepping into your power

The Elegant Warrior with Heather Hansen

Release Date: 08/28/2025

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More Episodes

No one likes the feeling of being misunderstood. It can create frustration, conflict, and even missed opportunities, whether in the courtroom, the boardroom, or at home. In this episode, Heather Hansen shares three powerful steps to move from feeling unseen and unheard to becoming the “queen of your kingdom.”

Drawing from her decades as a trial attorney, her consulting work, and personal lessons, Heather shows why misunderstanding doesn’t have to hold you back. Instead, it can be the very spark that strengthens your clarity, influence, and power.

If you’ve ever felt dismissed, overlooked, or simply not “gotten,” this conversation will help you turn confusion into connection.

 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • Why your first choice of thought and feeling determines how others receive you

  • How curiosity and compassion create pathways to understanding

  • The importance of truly seeing the other person’s perspective before trying to persuade

  • Heather’s three-step process: Choose, Understand, Advocate

  • How to master “the art of the ask” by using stories, evidence, and energy

  • Why delight, not resentment, is your greatest advantage when communicating

Resources & Mentions:

📚 The Elegant Warrior by Heather Hansen
✉️ Join Heather’s weekly newsletter for stories, strategies, and updates
🌐 Learn more about Heather’s consulting and coaching at ElegantWarrior.com

 

Episode Timestamps:

[00:01] The universal challenge of being misunderstood
[02:00] The “Martian” metaphor for communication gaps
[03:18] Lessons from defending doctors in medical malpractice cases
[05:45] Step 1: Choose your thoughts and feelings
[08:08] Step 2: Understand their perspective before persuading
[12:53] Step 3: Advocate with stories, evidence, and energy
[15:15] Stepping into your power by mastering communication

✨ Quote of the Episode:
"Choose, understand, advocate. When you do, you’ll transform being misunderstood into being powerfully understood." – Heather Hansen


Connect with Heather:

 

The Elegant Warrior Podcast and content posted by Heather Hansen is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.