Playing Big by Tara Mohr

Summary

Playing Big by Tara Mohr is a transformative guide designed to help women overcome self-doubt and step confidently into leadership roles. Mohr explores how women internalize limiting beliefs and provides practical tools for amplifying their voices and ambitions. The book blends psychological insights with actionable strategies, empowering readers to pursue goals with resilience, creativity, and authenticity. Mohr's approach is compassionate yet challenging, urging women to redefine success on their own terms.

Life-Changing Lessons

1. Shift from self-doubt to self-trust; Mohr outlines how women can recognize and challenge their inner critic, cultivating self-confidence.

2. Redefine feedback; Mohr teaches readers to separate useful input from self-sabotaging criticism and focus on growth.

3. Start before you're ready; Mohr advocates for taking bold action instead of waiting for perfection, which leads to greater personal and professional fulfillment.

Publishing year and rating

The book was published in: 2014

AI Rating (from 0 to 100): 87

Practical Examples

1. Inner Critic Work

   Mohr introduces an exercise in which women identify the voice of their 'inner critic', personify it, and learn strategies for reducing its influence. She encourages readers to write down what their critic says and challenge those thoughts with evidence and compassion. This practice builds self-awareness and helps women take action despite fears.

2. Playing Big Voice

   Mohr asks women to tap into their 'inner mentor', an imagined future self who provides wise advice. She guides readers through visualizations to connect with this voice, fostering a sense of purpose and direction. This example helps women make decisions aligned with their long-term vision.

3. Feedback as Data

   Rather than receiving feedback as an absolute judgment, Mohr suggests interpreting it as 'data about the person giving the feedback.' She encourages women to use feedback to understand audience perspectives without letting criticism diminish their self-worth, promoting resilience and growth.

4. Unhooking from Praise and Criticism

   Mohr explains how to detach from the emotional impact of both positive and negative feedback. She teaches that one's value is inherent and not dependent on external validation, freeing women to pursue meaningful work in alignment with their values.

5. Small Steps, Immediate Action

   Mohr urges women to take immediate, small actions toward their goals, even when they feel unprepared. She provides prompts for breaking big ambitions into manageable steps, helping overcome perfectionism and building momentum.

6. Letter to the Inner Critic

   In one exercise, Mohr suggests writing a letter from your inner critic and responding to it from your inner mentor. This process clarifies which voices guide your decisions and builds the habit of choosing empowering perspectives.

7. Clarifying Calling

   Mohr walks readers through a process to identify their 'calling'—work that feels deeply meaningful. Through journaling and reflection, she provides prompts to help women uncover what truly excites them, supporting authentic choices in career and life.

8. Visibility Challenges

   Mohr encourages women to step into greater visibility, such as publishing their work, speaking up in meetings, or initiating bold conversations. She provides strategies to navigate the discomfort of being seen, turning fear into growth.

9. Thought Leadership

   The book includes guidance on developing a distinct point of view and sharing it publicly, whether through writing, speaking, or social media. Mohr outlines how to find and articulate original ideas that shape industries and communities.

10. Navigating Self-Doubt

    Mohr offers tools for reframing self-doubt as a normal part of growth, with exercises to cultivate self-compassion. These strategies help women persist in their ambitions, even when confidence wavers.