kryptosino Kamala Harris Is Doing Something Brilliant Up There on the Tightrope

Given that Kamala Harris is running for the world’s most powerful elected officekryptosino, it’s no surprise to see voters and pundits commenting on her “power moves” and “boss energy.” What’s remarkable is that they mean it as a compliment. That’s a far cry from the experience of many women — in politics and beyond — who have dared to assert themselves.

It’s even a far cry from Ms. Harris’s experience four years ago. In the crowded Democratic presidential primary field of 2020, she and other female candidates were mostly criticized for lacking warmth. When she joined Joe Biden’s ticket, the warmer Ms. Harris seemed, the more positive impressions people formed of her — especially if they were conservative. But overall, people viewed her primarily as assertive and ambitious. Attempts to soften her image, such as the “We did it, Joe” video clip that the campaign released after the election was called for Mr. Biden, were sometimes mocked for seeming contrived.

Seeking power has always been a maddening tightrope walk for women. Show up as too dominant, and they’re seen as cold; reveal too much vulnerability (or, God forbid, cry), and they seem weak. Over time, Ms. Harris has figured out how to navigate these double standards, and her playbook may help other women do it, too.

One of the clearest markers of her evolution as a candidate has been her ability to convey both strength and sympathy and to do so in ways that come across as authentic. An early triumph came during the 2020 vice-presidential debate. When Mike Pence interrupted her, Ms. Harris didn’t get flustered — and she didn’t get steamrolled, either. She stood firm and said, “I’m speaking.”

But then she softened that power move.

Ms. Harris prefaced a strong interjection with a respectful honorific: “Mr. Vice President, I’m speaking.” Next, she smiled warmly, tilted her head and nodded. She tempered her statement with a polite tag question: “I’m speaking, ’kay?”

Psychologists find that these kinds of adjustments can make strong language more palatable and more persuasive. With both verbal and nonverbal cues, Ms. Harris played up her warmth without compromising her toughness. Four years later, “I’m speaking” is still a rallying cry among her supporters — Donald Trump even tried to co-opt it during his recent debate with her.

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