I'm in the military. I am probably at my most intimidating when I have to address a performance or behavior issue with a subordinate. I'm 5'1", a cheerful and friendly person, usually the person that my kids go to when they need help, but I can turn it around very quickly when necessary. When addressing issues, I have to put on my 'Petty Officer voice' and make my eyes intense, give them a knife hand, and explain to them in clear and concise terms WHY whatever they did was incorrect, HOW we are going to fix it, and that it will NEVER happen again, and if it does, the way we shall proceed.

Sometimes if the kid is being disrespectful during this session, especially when they're taller and bigger than me, I'll get up on a table and knifehand down at them. It usually does the trick. I find that men hate when women are up higher than them.

It's harder for me to get the response/adjustment in behavior that I need because I'm a small woman, so I have to lay it on thicker than my male counterparts to be listened to. I hate that I have to intimidate and frighten my shipmates into behaving correctly. No one should ever be intimidated at work --- but this is how the military operates, and for me, it's always the last resort.