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As 2017 winds to a close, people across the country are beginning to reflect on the last year, and think about what they’d like to do differently.
If you’re like most people, you’ve had your fair share of New Year resolutions that have fallen by the wayside as winter turns to spring. Today, I’d like to share three resolutions that are simple to start, easy to keep, and will help you communicate your way to success in 2018:
Take It Slow: People tend to rush their words when they’re nervous or passionate about a topic, two situations that come up frequently when speaking in the workplace. Resolve to develop a controlled, even rate of speech. You will appear more confident and knowledgeable, and give your listener the impression that what you have to say has value.
Keep It Clear: Speaking clearly not only makes you seem more professional and confident, it also ensures that your listener doesn’t have to work to understand your message! Be sure to pronounce each and every sound of every word. Be especially careful with consonants at the end of a word.
Cut Out Fillers: Fillers words and phrases like “um,” “uh,” “like,” “you know,” and “right?” can create an air of insecurity and significantly damage your credibility. For 2018, resolve to cut these words out of your vocabulary! When tempted to use a filler, try replacing it with a pause. Not only will pausing help you cut down your filler usage; it will also give your listener time to absorb your words and increase the clarity of your message. A good rule of thumb is to keep your filler usage to no more than two fillers per minute: any more than that and the listener will be paying attention to the distracting filler words instead of your message.
Related: The Power of Passion
If you’re looking for more ways to craft a strong, confident image that will help you to achieve your professional goals, make sure to pick up a free copy of my e-book “Communicate with Clarity and Confidence!” by subscribing to our newsletter community on our website. In this free resource, I break down the myriad factors that contribute to confident communication and guide you through how to use each aspect to your advantage.