Speak Like a CONFIDENT Leader! 3 BEST Ways to Improve Your Speaking Skills as a Leader

Summary

This video offers three essential tips for enhancing leadership communication skills. It emphasizes speaking with a firm, clear, and confident voice, which instills trust and authority. The script advises slowing down speech to appear more in control and suggests lowering the tone for a confident sound. It also highlights the importance of eliminating uptalk and filler words to convey certainty and commitment. Lastly, it recommends initiating discussions with thought-provoking questions to lead conversations and stimulate creative thinking within teams.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ Use a firm, clear, and confident voice to convey authority and control as a leader.
• 🔍 Slow down speech to appear more in control and to ensure clarity of communication.
• 📉 Lower the tone of voice slightly to project confidence without sounding too authoritative.
• 🚫 Remove the upswing, or rising intonation at the end of statements, to avoid sounding hesitant.
• 📈 Use the downswing, or downward intonation, to sound assertive and confident in your statements.
• ❌ Eliminate filler words like 'um', 'like', and 'you know' to appear more decisive and confident.
• 💭 Avoid non-committal phrases such as 'kind of' or 'sort of' to project certainty in your communication.
• 🤔 Ask open-ended, thought-provoking questions to initiate discussions and lead conversations.
• 💡 Thought-provoking questions stimulate creativity and problem-solving within team discussions.
• 👥 By asking questions, you can lead a conversation without the need to dominate the speaking time.
• 📝 Practice and incorporate these speaking skills in meetings and interactions to enhance your leadership presence.

Q & A

What are the three main tips provided in the video for improving speaking skills as a leader?

The three main tips are: 1) Use a firm, clear, and confident voice. 2) Remove hesitancy in verbal communication. 3) Ask thought-provoking questions to start discussions.

Why is it important for a leader to have a firm, clear, and confident voice?

A firm, clear, and confident voice is important because it conveys control and assurance, which are essential for followers to trust and follow the leader's guidance, support, and direction.

How can slowing down speech contribute to a leader's confidence in speaking?

Slowing down speech can make a leader appear more in control and less nervous, which in turn can make them seem more confident and better able to hold the attention of their audience.

What is the effect of speaking too fast on the perception of confidence?

Speaking too fast can make a person seem nervous or hesitant, which can negatively impact the perception of confidence, especially if it's due to fear of losing the audience's attention.

How does the tone of voice affect the perception of confidence?

A slightly lower tone of voice can convey confidence and control, whereas a high-pitched voice may sound insecure. However, it's important not to lower the tone too much to avoid sounding authoritative or dull.

What is an 'upswing' in speech, and why should it be avoided in leadership communication?

An 'upswing' is a rising intonation at the end of a statement, which can make the speaker sound hesitant or unsure. It should be avoided as it does not convey the confidence and assertiveness expected of a leader.

What is the opposite of an 'upswing' and why is it recommended for leaders?

The opposite of an 'upswing' is a 'downswing,' which is a downward intonation at the end of a sentence. It is recommended for leaders because it conveys certainty and confidence in their statements.

Why are filler words like 'um', 'like', and 'you know' detrimental to a leader's speech?

Filler words can make a leader seem hesitant and unsure, which detracts from their main message and undermines the perception of confidence and clarity that is crucial for effective leadership communication.

What is the significance of using open-ended questions in leadership communication?

Open-ended questions, starting with 'what', 'how', or 'why', require more elaborate answers and stimulate deeper thinking and discussion. This positions the leader as a conversation leader, directing the conversation and fostering creativity and problem-solving.

How can asking thought-provoking questions help a leader appear more assertive without dominating the conversation?

Asking thought-provoking questions allows a leader to initiate and guide discussions without the need to constantly talk. This approach demonstrates leadership by engaging others and leveraging their insights and ideas.

What is the recommended approach for removing filler words from one's speech?

The recommended approach is to simply remove the filler words from sentences rather than replacing them with something else. This helps to create a more confident and clear speaking style.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ Mastering the Art of Leadership Communication

This paragraph emphasizes the importance of using a firm, clear, and confident voice when speaking as a leader. It explains that controlling tone, speed, and intonation can convey confidence and authority. The speaker suggests slowing down speech to appear in control and using a lower tone to sound more confident. The purpose is to ensure that followers perceive the leader as capable and certain, which is essential for gaining their trust and confidence.

05:01

🎤 Adjusting Vocal Delivery for Leadership Presence

The second paragraph focuses on the practical application of vocal techniques to project leadership. It advises trying these techniques with new acquaintances first and then gradually incorporating them into interactions with familiar colleagues. The speaker also discusses the concept of 'upswing' and 'downswing' in speech, recommending the use of a downward intonation at the end of statements to avoid sounding hesitant. This approach helps in establishing oneself as a confident and assertive leader.

10:03

💬 Eliminating Hesitancy in Verbal Communication

This paragraph addresses the issue of hesitancy in verbal communication, particularly the overuse of filler words such as 'um,' 'like,' and 'you know,' which can undermine a leader's confidence. It suggests removing these words to appear more decisive and assertive. The speaker also warns against using non-committal phrases like 'kind of' or 'sort of,' urging leaders to be fully committed to their statements to inspire confidence and command respect.

15:04

🤔 Utilizing Thought-Provoking Questions for Leadership

The final paragraph discusses the strategy of using thought-provoking questions to lead conversations and demonstrate leadership without dominating the discussion. It advocates for open-ended questions that begin with 'what,' 'how,' or 'why' to encourage elaboration and stimulate creative thinking among team members. This method not only positions the leader as a conversation leader but also leverages the collective intelligence of the team to achieve better outcomes.

Keywords

💡Speaking Skills

Speaking skills refer to the ability to effectively communicate thoughts, ideas, and information through speech. In the context of the video, speaking skills are crucial for leaders as they convey confidence and authority. The script emphasizes the importance of using a firm, clear, and confident voice to project leadership qualities and gain followers' trust.

💡Voice Control

Voice control involves managing aspects of one's speech such as tone, speed, and intonation. The video script discusses how leaders can use voice control to sound more confident and assertive, which is essential for guiding and influencing others. By controlling these elements, a leader can ensure their message is delivered with the intended impact.

💡Firm, Clear, and Confident Voice

A firm, clear, and confident voice is characterized by a steady tone, understandable speech, and a sense of assurance. The video script suggests that this type of voice is important for leaders because it signals control and certainty, which are qualities that followers look for in those they respect and follow.

💡Tone

Tone, in the context of speech, refers to the quality, pitch, or inflection of the voice. The script explains that lowering one's tone slightly can convey confidence and authority, which are desirable traits for a leader. However, it also cautions against lowering the tone too much to avoid sounding aggressive or dull.

💡Intonation

Intonation is the variation in pitch when speaking. The video script distinguishes between upswing and downswing intonation. An upswing, or rising intonation at the end of a statement, can make a speaker sound hesitant, while a downswing, or falling intonation, projects confidence and decisiveness, which are important for leaders.

💡Upswing

The upswing is a rising intonation at the end of a statement, which can make the speaker sound unsure or hesitant. The video script advises against using the upswing for leaders, as it undermines the image of confidence and assertiveness that leaders need to project.

💡Downswing

Downswing refers to a falling intonation at the end of a sentence, which can indicate finality and certainty. The script recommends using the downswing instead of the upswing to avoid sounding hesitant and to convey a confident and assertive leadership presence.

💡Hesitancy

Hesitancy in verbal communication includes the use of filler words or non-committal phrases that suggest uncertainty. The video script points out that hesitancy can detract from a leader's message and make them appear indecisive. Leaders should strive for verbal commitment and clarity to inspire confidence in their followers.

💡Filler Words

Filler words, such as 'um,' 'ah,' 'like,' and 'you know,' are used to fill gaps in speech while thinking. The script highlights that excessive use of these words can make a speaker seem unsure or lacking in confidence, which is not conducive to effective leadership communication.

💡Thought-Provoking Questions

Thought-provoking questions are inquiries that stimulate deep thinking and discussion. The video script encourages leaders to use such questions to initiate discussions, positioning themselves as conversation leaders. This approach allows leaders to guide the conversation and draw out the best ideas and solutions from their team.

💡Conversation Leader

A conversation leader is someone who directs the flow of a discussion by asking questions, rather than just responding to them. The video script suggests that by becoming a conversation leader through the use of thought-provoking questions, a leader can effectively engage their team and demonstrate leadership without dominating the conversation.

Highlights

Use a firm, clear, and confident voice to improve speaking skills as a leader.

Control over voice tone, speed, and intonation can convey confidence.

Leaders are looked up to for guidance, support, and direction; a firm voice reflects control.

Hesitant or unsure communication undermines leadership and followership.

Slowing down speech can project control and reduce nervousness.

Excitement can influence speech rate, but it's distinguishable from nervousness.

Pausing and slowing speech can enhance confidence and comprehension.

Lowering the tone of voice can project confidence and authority.

Practice new voice techniques with new acquaintances before applying them in familiar settings.

Remove the upswing in speech to avoid sounding hesitant or unsure.

Use the downswing for statements to project confidence and assertiveness.

Filler words like 'um', 'like', and 'you know' can detract from a confident image.

Verbal commitment and removing hesitancy are key to leadership communication.

Thought-provoking questions can initiate discussions and establish leadership.

Ask open-ended questions to lead conversations and tap into others' creativity.

Being a conversation leader by asking questions is a powerful leadership tool.

Summarizes the three key points for speaking like a leader: voice control, removing hesitancy, and asking thought-provoking questions.

Transcripts

this video will give you three practical

tips on how to improve your speaking

skills as a leader so you can speak like

a leader at work we have a lot of

content to cover in this video so get a

notebook out get a pen ready and let's

get started number one use a firm clear

and confident voice what i'm essentially

talking about here is how your voice

sounds not so much the words that you

use but how your voice sounds and

despite what you might think you

actually have a lot of control over how

your voice sounds you have control over

your tone your speed and your intonation

and all of these things when used in the

right way can help your voice sound firm

clear and confident before we get into

talking about how to achieve that i want

to talk about why it's important for you

to have a voice that is firm clear and

confident well the reality is as a

leader people look up to you they look

up to you for guidance for support and

for direction as well when people look

up to you they want to know that you are

in control that you've got it together

if you communicate in a way that is

hesitant or unsure it's gonna tell them

you don't know what you're doing they're

not going to think you are in control of

the situation and as a result they won't

follow you basically you don't have

confidence in yourself so why should

they have confidence in you now if

people don't follow you because they

don't truly believe in what you're

saying or they don't have confidence in

what you're saying because you use a

voice that is not firm confident or

strong it's going to impact you as a

leader and most emerging leaders i speak

to they want to know how to have more

impact in their career in their team and

in their company having a voice that is

firm clear and confident is definitely a

good starting point so how can you

achieve a voice that is firm clear and

confident well the first thing you need

to do is to slow down your speech when

you slow down your speech it immediately

makes you look like you are in control

of the situation it makes you look like

you know exactly what you are going to

say next it makes you look as though you

are not fearful of losing people's

attention and you're not increasing the

rate of how fast you speak because

you're nervous this is something that

people who are nervous quite often do

the next time you're in a conversation

take note of whether that person is

speaking fast or slow do they look

nervous or do they look in control and

when they speak fast how does that make

them sound does that make him sound like

they are confident like they are in

control of the situation or does it make

them sound like they're hesitant or

worried about losing your attention now

i do understand that sometimes when you

are excited about something when you're

really excited about a project or a task

or a challenge that you are facing as a

leader your excitement will come through

in the rate of speech that you use if

you're excited you'll speak faster so

speaking faster doesn't always mean that

you are nervous but of course you can

detect whether somebody is speaking fast

because they're nervous or they're

speaking fast because they're excited

this is something you can absolutely

detect through their facial expressions

through the other body language and

through the basic words and vocabulary

that they use when they're explaining

something to you but for you we're

talking about how you can speak like a

leader and improve your speaking skills

what i recommend you to do is to slow

down your speech if you feel that your

nerves are coming through if you feel

that you're starting to lose confidence

in what you're saying you're starting to

get nervous in that meeting

take a breath

pause

slow down your speech it will not only

help you look more confident and in

control of the whole conversation but it

will also help your listener to

understand what you're saying because

remember when people speak fast it is

more difficult to understand

what they're saying to understand what

their main point is and at the end of

the day when we speak every time we

communicate it is for the listener it's

not necessarily for us it is for the

listener we need to communicate

so the listener can understand what

we're saying and that is how you have

impact as a leader when you speak you

can also lower your tone of voice a tiny

bit so when we speak in a high-pitched

voice it makes us sound young and

insecure when we speak in a slightly

lower toned voice it can make you sound

like you are confident like you are in

control of this situation do you see the

two differences here in how i just used

my voice in this one video saying

exactly the same thing now when i film

my youtube videos i tend to make an

effort to lower my voice the tone of my

voice a tiny bit you don't want to do it

too much because it can make you sound

too authoritative or perhaps aggressive

or sometimes even dull and boring but

lowering it just enough so you can

convey that level of authority so you

can convey that level of confidence that

you want people to read from you that

you want people to see in you it can be

very very very effective in helping you

speak like a leader and sound more like

a leader at work i recommend you start

to try it out with people you meet for

the very first time so obviously people

you know really well at work they know

exactly how your voice sounds it might

be more difficult to make that

transition with them so try it out first

with people you are meeting for the very

first time see what their reaction is do

they treat you like somebody who is

confident do they treat you like

somebody who is in control of the

situation do they look up to you like

you are a leader you can take a lot of

clues from reading how other people

react to the way you speak and the way

you act and the way you interact with

them and if you find that it is working

with those strangers you speak to then

you can slowly start to incorporate it

in your interactions with people you

already know at work i recommend you

begin during meetings this is quite

often the time when a lot of emerging

leaders find it difficult to get talking

space especially when there's someone in

the room who was a lot more talkative

who is a lot more a senior who's a lot

more of an extrovert than you are so

start during meetings start using it

during meetings and see what the

response is and please let me know in

the comments below how effective this is

for you because i would love to know the

results of this guidance and the tips

that i'm sharing with you another tip i

have for you is to remove the upswing i

have spoken about the upswing a number

of times in other videos on my channel

you have probably already heard of me

talking about the upswing if you are a

regular viewer a regular subscriber of

my channel but in case you're watching

this for the first time and you don't

know what the upswing is i'll explain it

to you right now so the upswing is the

rising intonation

at the end of a statement not a question

but a statement and i'll give you an

example i sent you that report last

friday it was about how we should

respond to that client's request or i

took the train to the city on the

weekend i had to go to the apple store

and get a new computer now these

examples are a bit exaggerated i admit

that but i'm hoping you can get an idea

of what i mean when i talk about the

upswing it's something you have no doubt

heard in movies you probably hear in

your day-to-day life people you work

with probably use it in a business

context it is actually very very common

in society to use the upswing it is more

common in with people who are of a

younger generation most likely because

they're more uncertain or hesitant about

what they're saying especially if

they're talking to senior professionals

but that's exactly why the upswing is

not good for you to use because when you

use the upswing it makes you sound

hesitant it makes you sound unsure of

what you're saying and that is not the

image or the impression you want to

convey when you want people to think you

were a confident leader and i know

because you are watching this channel

you're likely subscribed to this channel

if you are thank you so much but what

you want is for people to recognize you

as a confident assertive leader or

emerging leader that is what this whole

channel is about and one of the best

ways you can get there is to stop using

the upswing instead use the downswing so

the downswing is obviously the opposite

it's a downward intonation at the end of

a sentence for example i sent you that

report last friday it was about how to

respond to our client's request or i

took the train into the city on the

weekend i had to go to the apple store

and get a new computer now i mentioned

before that the upswing is the rising

intonation at the end of a statement not

a question and i want to talk a little

about that now so questions when you are

asking somebody a question it is

completely natural and actually

recommended for you to have the rising

intonation at the end of your question

why because that is how people know you

are asking a question you need that

rising intonation so they can understand

from your tone of voice from the way

your voice sounds that you're asking

them a question now i remember when i

was learning japanese they actually put

a certain syllable at the end of a

statement to make it into a question

they use ka which indicates to the

listener that that person is asking them

a question now in english we don't have

such thing to use so what we do in order

to indicate to the other person we're

asking them a question is by using the

rising intonation so i want to say that

an upswing is only valid for statements

so when you're asking a question you can

use the rising intonation if you are not

asking a question if it's a statement

something you are sure about or you

should be sure about use the downward

intonation now if you like what you've

learned so far in this video there are

two things you can do to help my channel

the first is to hit the like button

below this video this tells the

algorithm on youtube that people like

you like this video and like this

content and will share this video with

more people like you on youtube the

second thing you can do is to subscribe

to my channel if you haven't already now

every week i share videos on leadership

to help you on your leadership journey

and i would be honored to share my

future content with you too now let's

move on to more tips to help you improve

your speaking skills number two remove

hesitancy in your verbal communication

so even if you have a confident sounding

voice through the speed through your

tone and through the downswing hesitancy

can creep in through the words that you

use if you use words like um are

basically literally just like you know

these are all filler words they don't

really add anything to the context of

what you're saying or to your main

message they just kind of fill the space

or you use them to fill the space mostly

while you are thinking of the next thing

to say so for that reason filler words

can actually be helpful but what i have

found is that when people use them too

much when it pops up in every sentence

or a number of times in the one sentence

it immediately makes you look like you

lack confidence it immediately makes you

look like you are hesitant and unsure

about what you're saying when they are

overused in your leadership

communication it detracts from your main

message and as a leader when you

communicate clarity is everything other

phrases i hear often are it's kind of or

it's sort of for example you know that

client report well it's kind of your

responsibility or i think tuesday is

sort of the best option for the meeting

so again using filler words or hesitant

non-committal words in your speech don't

make you sound like a leader remember

we're aiming for a confidence as a

leader you need to show confidence you

need people to believe you are confident

in order for them to follow you if you

want people to think you're confident

what you need to use in your verbal

communication is verbal commitment you

need to be sure about what you're saying

you need to stick to your word you can't

show any hesitancy you have to be 100

committed to what you're saying and this

should be conveyed through the words

that you use as well as the tone of

voice and everything we've talked about

already in this video but this does take

courage i get it i understand it takes

courage to speak with such commitment

with such a verbal commitment especially

if you're coming from a more passive

style of communication where you are

used to using hesitancy when you

communicate maybe you grew up in a

culture where being assertive where

being committed to your ideas and your

opinions was frowned upon so it can take

a lot for somebody to change their style

of communication to make it more

confident assertive or even persuasive

but i know it's something that you can

absolutely achieve and removing filler

words is a fantastic starting point for

you to get there you don't have to

replace the filler words with anything i

have been asked this question what

should i replace the word just with in

my sentences i advise you to not replace

it with anything just simply remove it

it's a filler word right it's just

filling in your sentence so all you need

to do is to remove that filler word and

your sentence will sound perfectly

confident i want to put a quick break in

the content to see if you've downloaded

the how to become a go-to expert guide

which is available on my website it's a

free download and i share 21 ideas on

how you can become known as a go-to

expert so these ideas range from advice

for your communication or your social

presence or your visibility at work you

can download it from the link at the

bottom of the screen here and i will put

a link in the description below so you

can quickly access it now let's move on

to the rest of the tips number three use

thought-provoking questions to begin our

discussion starting a discussion is a

fantastic way to look like a leader

without the pressure of having to talk

all of the time i know a lot of you

watching are more on the introverted

side you don't like to be the center of

attention and you might be wondering

well how can i be seen as a leader if

i'm not the one who is doing all the

talking well your answer to that is by

asking thoughtful questions by starting

a discussion by initiating a discussion

it puts you in the position of

conversation leader instead of

conversation followers so when we're

talking about conversation leader and

conversation follower conversation

leader is a person who asks all the

questions conversation follower is the

person who answers the questions now the

benefit of being conversation leader is

that you can direct the conversation to

where you want it to go by asking the

right questions the conversation

follower must follow your lead and

answer the questions that you ask them

so by using thought provoking questions

to start our discussion it puts you in

the position of conversation leader

which is exactly where you want to be

now how do you start asking thought

provoking questions well you need to ask

open-ended questions so these are

questions that begin with what how or

why for example what led you to that

decision why did you come to that

conclusion how should we do this in a

more efficient way all of these

questions get the other person thinking

when you begin your questions with what

how or why it gets the other person

thinking they can't answer with a simple

yes or no because you're not asking them

a closed-ended question which only

requires a yes or no answer you're

asking them a question or a style of

question that requires them to elaborate

on the answer to think about how they're

going to answer you and to give you a

more lengthy answer rather than a yes or

no answer it's really the best way to

tap into people's creativity problem

solving skill and creative thinking

ability this will help you get the most

out of your team get the most out of

their expertise and their intelligent

helping you achieve better results as a

leader so to sum up the three points

we've talked about in this video how to

improve your speaking skills and speak

like a leader the first thing you need

to do is use a firm clear and confident

voice the second thing you need to do is

to remove hesitancy from your verbal

communication and the third thing you

need to do is to ask thought provoking

questions to start our discussion this

is how you improve your speaking skills

and sound like a leader at work i really

hope you've enjoyed the tips in this

video if you did let me know in the

comments below if you like this video

hit the like button subscribe to my

channel thank you so much for watching

and i will see you in the next video