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8 tips for powerful communication
If you are building your career or your business, it is important to be able to communicate powerfully & clearly. Many of us tend to over-argue ourselves, too much so. Skirting around the message or naming fallacies only make you look implausible or defensive.
With less you say more.
By communicating defensively, you invalidate the message.
If you say what you mean and mean what you say, without arguing every choice and all your decisions, you come across as more powerful. Here are 8 tips to clearly and distinctly get your message across. By the way, good communication always starts with good listening. How often have miscommunications occurred because one interlocutor did not hear what the other was saying? Or that both are actually not listening but are mainly busy getting their own point across. Really hearing what the other person is saying is sometimes an art in itself.
1. Core
Start with the core and don't beat around the bush.
2. Short but powerful
Keep it short and dare to drop silences. This way, you give your interlocutor the space and time to really hear what you are saying and, if necessary, to ask for clarification.
3. Closing
The biggest mistake you can make is to end your powerful statement with a question. If you stand by your choice then you don't need confirmation of this. A question usually ends a few octaves higher. Ensure intonation in your voice but don't end your communication with a voice that is too high pitched. Right?
4. Tone
You can hear it in someone's voice when they are not fit, nervous or selling lies. The latter betrays someone when there are changes in the dynamics, melody, timbre or rhythm of his/her intonation. In addition, for men and women, the lower the tone of voice, the more confident and stable you come across and the more persuasive you are.
5. Tempo
The speaking pace should not be too fast; this comes across as nervous. It is best to adopt the interlocutor's speaking pace. If she talks fast, she probably likes it when her interlocutor also keeps up the pace. Bear in mind that you come across as more confident if you speak calmly and what you say calmly is perceived as more important.
6. Volume
Someone who talks loudly comes across as dominant. Speaking softly is interpreted as insecure, shy or unenthusiastic. So don't talk too loud, but certainly not too soft either. (Hambeukers-Nollet, sd)
7. Eye contact
Eye contact signifies attention, involvement and interest. Not looking at someone actually indicates disinterest, nerves or being distracted. Make eye contact with your interlocutor and maintain eye contact during the conversation. If you are talking to several people, alternate eye contact.
8. Body posture
Pay attention to your body posture, adopt a proud stance. Shoulders back, chest out and your back straight. Make sure you have an open posture, for example don't cross your arms. On new, the difference here is between a defensive posture (arms crossed/closed) or a confident posture, straight and open.
