For professionals who speak confidently, there is an aura of boldness, self-assurance, and determination that surrounds them. With every word they speak, and action they take, they command attention from those around them.
But why is that? And what makes others tune in and listen?
Based on my many years of working with professionals who want to ratchet up their communication skills so they can speak with confidence and clarity, I have identified three common traits that confident-speaking professionals typically master:
1) Decisions are statements, not questions.
Professionals who exude confidence when they speak stand behind their decisions and deliver them in a way that leaves no doubt in the audience’s mind about what they believe and what is intended. The statements are said with conviction and not with a question mark at the end. If a professional does not believe in what he/she is saying, how can he/she expect anyone else to believe?
2) Silence is a powerful tool.
Professionals who speak confidently say what they have to say and then protect the silence. They do not fill the silence with meaningless chatter that dilutes the message. Instead, they use the silence to their benefit and further drive home an idea by giving time to let an idea settle in the ears of the audience.
3) Not afraid to admit that they may be wrong.
Professionals who speak confidently are typically not afraid to weigh in on a situation or share an idea. At a particular time that they share their thoughts and ideas they are comfortable basing what they are saying on all of the information that is currently available. As more information becomes available or a situation further develops, they embrace the concept that what they have said may not be correct in the future but will be willing to admit it. They do not let the possibility of being wrong at some point in the future paralyze them from making a statement and moving forward on an idea now.
How about you? Are you on your way to mastery?
Susanne Crawford is an executive communication coach, author, and international speaker who is passionate about helping others advance their careers by sharing their ideas with the world. As a leading communication expert, Susanne wrote the book entitled Simply OutSTANDing™ Communicator: Speak with confidence + clarity to get what you want, in which she details Simply OutSTANDing™, a simple six‐step communication approach that she created to help prepare others to be ready + confident + focused + heard when the time is right for them to speak. For more information, visit www.simplyoutstanding.co or follow her at @execcommcoach.
