Everybody should want to be a more effective communicator. Communication is one of the most desired skills in practically any business setting, and you will have a much harder time if you are unable to convince people of your credibility and authority through speech. Like it or not, people make all kinds of judgments about people based on how they speak and their speech mannerisms. Here, Adam Ferrari provides five tips on how to make your speech more authoritative and authentic.
1. Body Language
Over half of the way that we communicate is expressed through body language, not spoken words. Thus, body language has a significant impact on how people interpret your speech. People are much less likely to take someone seriously with their shoulder slumped and their head facing down. Effective body language involves facing your interlocutor, looking them in the eye, and keeping your upper body upright and back straight.
2. Speak Slowly and Deliberately
One problem many people have is they get excited or nervous and speed up their rate of speech. Speaking too fast runs the risk that your audience won’t be able to keep up with what you say. Be deliberate with your speech. Try to speak slowly so that people can follow along easily and fully understand what it is you are saying. That way, they can pay better countenance to your ideas.
3. Practice
The idea of standing in front of a mirror talking to yourself may sound silly, but it can be a great way to work on your public speaking skills and analyze things like your facial expressions and body language when you are talking. Take some time during the mornings to recite some speech to yourself in the mirror, taking great care to work on your body language and your appearance when speaking. With a mirror, you can pretend you are your own audience, which can better help you figure out how to communicate more effectively.
4. Keep it Simple
Jargon can be useful in many circumstances as a way to quickly convey complex ideas. But many speakers lean on jargon as a crutch and fail to deliver on the substance of an idea. Despite what you might think, keeping things simple is an excellent way to present yourself as an authority on something. Jargon makes it easy to hide behind fancy words instead of clearly articulating a concept. Your audience will appreciate the clarity and more direct speech too.
5. Relax
People can tell when your speech is forced. We know it sounds counterintuitive, but part of being a good speaker is heaving a natural cadence and flow to your voice. Ironically, focusing too hard on it will mess you up. So relax, and take it easy when speaking. Trying too hard to sound authoritative ironically can backfire and have the opposite intended effect.
Learning to speak well is a skill, and like any other, it is something you need to practice. But these strategies can help you cultivate a sense of authority in your speech.
About Adam Ferrari
Adam Ferrari is the founder of the Denver-based mineral acquisitions company Ferrari Energy. He is a chemical engineer by degree and is an accomplished petroleum engineer by profession. He also has experience in the financial sector through his work at an investment banking firm. Under his leadership, his company has supported numerous charitable organizations, including St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Freedom Service Dogs, Denver Rescue Mission, Coats for Colorado, and Next Steps of Chicago.
