How to speak like the 1% elite

Summary

This video discusses the concept of building a 'verbal brand,' which defines the words and phrases you use and avoid to communicate effectively. It highlights how influential speakers like Steve Jobs and Muhammad Ali crafted distinct verbal styles by refining their language. The video emphasizes the importance of eliminating vague or overused phrases and solving 'lexical gaps'—moments when we struggle to express ideas clearly. By practicing and reinforcing precise language, speakers can achieve natural fluency, making their communication concise and memorable, like the top 1% communicators.

Takeaways

• 🔖 A verbal brand is a set of words and phrases that someone consistently uses to articulate themselves uniquely.
• 🚀 Building a verbal brand is the first step towards becoming a 1% communicator, which involves refining how one speaks.
• 🌟 To build a verbal brand, one should identify and use phrases creatively that resonate with their personal style.
• 📋 Avoid using stale expressions, fillers, and vulgarity, as they make one sound generic.
• 🎯 The choice of words should align with one's goals, such as impacting wealth, status, or understanding.
• 🔍 Identify situations where one lacks verbal confidence and research effective words and phrases for those scenarios.
• 📝 Write down words and phrases that resonate with you and avoid those that are stiff or showy.
• 🚫 Verbal discords are words or phrases that don't align with one's desired speaking style and should be replaced.
• 🌐 A lexical gap is the inability to express thoughts clearly and concisely, often due to unclear ideas or vague word choices.
• 📚 Reading transcripts of speeches can help fill lexical gaps by providing examples of articulate language.
• 🧠 To speak clearly, one must first think clearly, which involves identifying and bridging one's lexical gaps.

Q & A

What is a verbal brand, according to the script?

A verbal brand is the set of boundaries around the words and phrases a person chooses to use and avoid, reflecting their goals and how they want to be perceived in communication.

Why is it important to build a verbal brand?

Building a verbal brand is important because it allows individuals to speak more intentionally and creatively, avoiding stale expressions and fillers, and making a memorable impact in communication.

How do 1% communicators differ from ordinary speakers?

1% communicators use creative and personalized expressions instead of generic phrases. For example, instead of saying 'getting popular,' they might say 'on the ascendancy.' They avoid stale expressions and fillers to speak with precision and clarity.

What is a lexical gap, and why is it a problem in communication?

A lexical gap is when it takes too long to express an idea due to a lack of precise words, leading to unclear and muddled speech. It prevents effective communication by making explanations vague and unnecessarily lengthy.

How can someone identify and solve their lexical gaps?

To identify lexical gaps, individuals can log phrases that take too long to express or are unclear. Solutions include using resources like books, apps, or speech transcripts to find more articulate alternatives and practicing them aloud.

Why do great speakers often have a background in writing?

Great speakers often have a background in writing because writing helps solve lexical gaps by allowing them to think through and refine their word choices, making their speech clearer and more concise when delivered.

What is the role of verbal simulations in improving one's verbal brand?

Verbal simulations help reinforce the use of articulate language by practicing phrases in specific scenarios. Repeating a phrase about 38 times in different contexts helps commit it to memory, allowing for smoother and more natural usage in real conversations.

How can someone ensure they retrieve their refined verbal choices in real-time conversations?

Retrieving refined verbal choices in conversations requires committing those choices to the subconscious through repeated use. This allows speakers to use precise language naturally without overthinking every word, maintaining a genuine flow.

Why should speakers avoid using overly fancy or stiff words like 'procure' or 'indefatigable'?

Speakers should avoid overly fancy words because they can sound unnatural or pretentious, making communication less effective. Simple, clear words that align with the speaker’s style and goals are more impactful.

How does listening to speeches help in solving lexical gaps?

Listening to speeches exposes individuals to well-constructed sentences where lexical gaps have already been solved. This helps calibrate the listener's mind to use more concise and articulate language in their own communication.