It would be tough to find any high-impact leader who doesn’t have strong verbal communication skills. From the earliest days of human civilization, men and women who captivate and inspire others are those who can communicate vision, purpose, and goals through the words and tone they use.
In developing executive presence, up-and-coming leaders can employ the following six tips to improve their executive presence in one-on-one settings, group meetings, and speaking engagements.
1. Use Confident Phrases
Sometimes, leaders may use phrases intended to leave space for alternative ideas or approaches but may instead communicate a lack of confidence. In our personal relationships, phrases such as “I think that…,” “I feel like…,” or “maybe we should…” can be welcome as two or three close connections discuss matters of personal concern. However, a more confident approach in a business setting will improve executive presence. Replace less confident phrases with phrases such as:
- “Let’s go with…”
- “We’ll move forward with…”
- “Research shows…”
- “The decision is…”
2. Avoid Filler Words
All languages have filler words—words we use in everyday speech to indicate a pause or suggest we aren’t done speaking. These words can make speech seem more halting or hesitant. While not wrong, listeners may interpret these words to indicate a lack of preparation or knowledge on the speaker's part. By eliminating filler words as much as possible, you can smooth out your speech and improve your perception as someone knowledgeable.
English filler words and sounds include:
- So…
- Um…
- Ah…
- Like…
3. Avoid Ending Words That Create Questions
Related to filler words are those words we put at the end of declarative sentences that turn them into questions. Examples include:
- …, right?
- …, you know?
When otherwise declarative sentences end with these question words and a rising intonation, speakers can dull the impact of the point made in the sentence. The audience hears a question, which can trigger their brains to think about coming up with a response and assume that the speaker is not confident in the statement that preceded the question. As much as possible, eliminate these unnecessary ending words and phrases that create questions where they aren’t necessary.
Sometimes, of course, follow-up questions are essential. In those instances, end a sentence with confidence and ask a separate question:
- Do you agree?
- Do you have any questions?
- Do you have suggestions?
4. Pause
Pausing is not a sign of weakness or inability to speak. Instead, it’s a huge opportunity to organize your thoughts. Taking a moment to organize your thoughts can help you avoid starting your next sentence with passive, defensive, or unconfident language.
Of course, pausing introduces a risk that others may assume you are done speaking, and they may jump in to speak. If this happens, simply clarify that you were only pausing.
- Can you hold your thought for a moment? I wasn’t quite finished.
- Just a moment. I wasn’t finished speaking.
- Let me make one more point, and then I’ll open the floor to responses.
5. Replace or Eliminate Words that Reduce Impact
In addition to eliminating filler words, watch for the following terms and eliminate or replace them:
- Only: “Only” could minimize something that has impact. Replace with “what” or “why.”
- Just: Unless you are using “just” to indicate something that is “fair” or “equitable,” do not use it. Often, it’s simply a filler word, similar to “like.”
- But: This conjunction risks establishing agreement and then immediately taking it away. Replace with “and” or “also.”
- “I understand your concerns and look forward to hearing your solutions.”
- “Also, there may be a need to…”
- Actually: “Actually” contradicts what someone else said. Try replacing it with “My understanding is…”
- Unfortunately: When used in certain circumstances, this word can sound like an excuse or an unwillingness to apologize. Replace with “I’m sorry.”
6. Refine Your Vocal Qualities
For some leaders, their words are less troublesome than their vocal qualities. Voice coach Roger Love breaks sound into five characteristics: tone, melody, pitch, pace, and volume. Each of these qualities can be used to improve executive presence by maximizing its use in a business setting. For instance, if a speaker uses too much or too little air, the audience may perceive the speaker as weak. A speaker can improve tone and communicate a more robust executive presence by learning to regulate breathing correctly.
Few leaders exhibit a polished executive presence right from the start of their careers; rather, executive presence is a skill that requires practice and refinement over time. By including strong oral communication skills and executive language in the overall development of executive presence, a leader can become a more effective executive in every setting.
Self-check:
- What is one filler word you’ve noticed yourself using?
- What is one confident phrase you can start using today?
- What is one "low-impact" word or phrase you can reduce in your business speech?