Do you want to build respect in the workplace and improve your authority when you are speaking? Here are two simple trips to put into practise straight away – it’s all about your verbal and your non-verbal communication.
It’s important to give the impression of being in control if you want to earn respect from your co-workers. It’s not about sounding aggressive and pushy, but rather, getting your point across in a clear, authentic way that makes people listen and act upon your words.
1. Use nonverbal communication
Firstly, your non-verbal communication, your body language. To be positive and authoritative you need to own your space. Fill the space that you’re standing in. Put your shoulders back, free your elbows from your side and hold your head upright to start building an impression of authority. Imagine a piece of string is holding you up so you are standing tall.
2. Slow down
When it comes to your verbal communication, you need to consider your elocution – how you say what you’re saying. Remember to add emphasis, intonation and pauses. Speak at a steady pace – that means not taking too many pauses, but pausing just enough to show that you are in control of the ideas you are conveying, rather than rushing and giving the impression that you don’t know what you’re talking about. By doing this, you can use emphasis to push key words and add intonation and colour into the words that matter.
Try these at work and they will help you speak more clearly and sound more authoritative. Good luck!
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