Power Words
By Jaquelyn Lynn
Want to strengthen your image and influence? Powerful speechpatterns can help. Donald H. Weiss, CEO of Self-ManagementCommunications Inc., an executive education firm in Florissant,Missouri, and author ofWhy Didn't I Say That?(Amacom),offers these tips to increase your verbal power:
Avoid "ahs" and "uhs." "You can be veryconfident, but `ahs' and `uhs' make you sound unsure ofyourself and what you're saying," Weiss says. Don't beafraid of silence; it's OK to say you need a moment to thinkabout something.
Use active instead of passive verbs--"We need to dosomething about this" rather than "Something needs to bedone about this."
Avoid speaking too rapidly or too loudly. These speech patternscan create an aura of distrust and make the person you are speakingwith uncomfortable. Lowering the tone of your voice and slowing thepace of your speech encourages others to listen.
Avoid generalities. Vague statements that can't besubstantiated can make everything you say suspect. If you don'thave the data to back up a statement, make it clear that whatyou're saying is your opinion.
Watch your use of qualifiers. While they are sometimesnecessary, constant use of such phrases as "I think,""in my opinion," and "it appears to me" makesyou sound unsure of yourself.
Jacquelyn Lynn is a business writer in Winter Park,Florida.
