I once facilitated a group session in which I asked participants to graphically depict the concept we had just discussed. They had carte blanche to draw, sketch, doodle, mind map, use metaphor, words, word clouds, etc.
When the group came back to debrief the exercise, one person said, “I cheated. I searched online for images.”
I’d call that “resourceful” rather than “cheating.” I hadn’t provided any ground rules that said looking online was off-limits!
Language plays an important role in shaping not only how others interpret what we’re saying and also impacts how others perceive us. Both of these affect our influence.
If you want to amplify your voice and increase your influence, your words matter. Here are a few factors to consider:
- Do you disparage yourself, even in lighthearted or self-deprecating ways? (“I cheated.”)
- Do you use “weak” verbs when talking about your accomplishments or a project status? (“I tried to
- Do you use a lot of filler words? (“Kind of”, “sort of”, “um” and “like” are all examples of fillers.)
- Do you use unnecessary qualifying statements? (“This may be a silly question…”)
All of these habits diminish the value of your knowledge and expertise. They detract from your executive voice and ability to make a stronger impact. (Full disclosure, I have been working to eradicate the filler “like” for longer than I care to admit.)
Try these strategies to amplify your voice:
Notice Your language
Use your cell phone to record yourself speaking in a meeting for a minute or two. Listen to the audio and identify one thing you did well and one thing you’d like to do change. Then practice doing both.
Use Strong Verbs
If you’ve ever had someone review your resume, you’ve probably heard this. The same rule applies to the spoken word. “I am spearheading…” is stronger than “I’m coordinating…” Exchange weak verbs for stronger ones.
(Doing this on the fly requires being present in the moment so your brain can catch up to your mouth.)
(Take a Deep Breath and) Say What You Mean
If your confidence is low or you’re nervous, it can be common to add qualifying statements, share too much detail, or over-explain. This makes it harder for your audience to follow your train of thought and you appear unsure of yourself.
Here’s the good news. Once you see something, it’s hard to “unsee” it. You’ll start to notice your language more and take steps to course correct. By doing this repeatedly, you’ll build new neural pathways in your brain and obliterate the habits that hold you back!
If you’re looking for more tips on building your executive presence, you can download my executive presence quiz here! Or click here to jump on my calendar.
