The language of leadership

Do you feel comfortable speaking up, and making your voice heard?

If not… you are not alone.

Many of us – especially women - have been conditioned not to speak up.

And to believe that being assertive is the same as being pushy.

But it’s not.

Our voices matter. And sharing our opinions and ideas, necessary.

The good thing?

Communicating in an inspiring, confident and assertive way is not about shouting.

It’s also not an innate skill, but a craft.

And like any craft, it can be honed.

⛰️ Speak the language of leadership

-       Aim for clarity. What one clear message do you want to get across?

-       Choose words that take you towards your goal with gentle ‘oomph’ (“I believe that…”, “I’m convinced that…” “I disagree.”

-       Avoid diminishing words (“basically”, “just”, “a little”) that dilute our message and sow the seeds of doubt.

📝 Prepare, and practice

The better prepared we are, the more confident. It’s not about performance, but giving ourselves structure.

-       Write down what you want to say, and rehearse.

-       Anticipate questions…

-       Prepare and practice possible answers.

🙌 Use positive body language

-       Get into the right ‘space’ before you start to speak – anchored, and open.

-       Make eye contact with everyone

-       Let your hands do the talking too.

The more we practice a craft, the better we get at it.

What can you do today to use your voice – and make it heard?

Photo by Pedro Gandra on Unsplash