Harness The Power of Leadership Language
The language you use determines the respect, credibility, and power you command in the workplace. Influence expert, Karen Keller, PhD shares valuable wisdom about how women unknowingly use language that undermines their power and she provides solutions about how to change these habits for the better.
According to Dr. Keller, women need to make a conscious decision to hear what they are saying and the effect it has on others and themselves. The language of powerful women is based on confidence, certainty, and connection says Dr. Keller and without power words, women struggle to get their point across and fail to make important contributions to an outcome.
In the workplace – language is power so Dr. Keller advises women to adopt a power language letting people see their value, contribution, and confidence – front and center!
Here is what you should avoid plus the solutions to strengthen the power of your language:
Grammar Weakness – words that weaken your message make you invisible according to Dr. Keller. For example: “It’s my feeling that…, I think we should…, I don’t know as much as you do about this…”
You must adopt a language of success and choose words that convey vigor, courage and leadership and not weakness, fear, and uncertainty. Be decisive! For example: “This is what needs to be done. Vs. I think we can do it this way.”
Tail End Questions – this is the question women add to the end of a sentence. “I sent the proposal yesterday, okay?” The sentence contains a statement of fact but when you add a question at the end it weakens the statement and renders you powerless and less effective.
Simply cut off the question at the end and take the time to think before you speak. Slow down, count to 5 – let your confidence in what you say be the focus and resist the urge to gather approval by adding a tail end question.
Vague extras – these tell others that you are over the top or insecure. For example: “Yours is certainly the very, very, best report.” Instead of: “Yours in the most complete report.”
Practice precise words that express what you want to say and what you want others to hear. Your credibility will grow when you remove the superfluous that add nothing to your message.
Dr. Keller is an expert in women’s leadership and assertiveness training – she concludes power language and power conversations make you more powerful. Become the force you were meant to be and tap the power of your professional language.
