Talk Less, Say More: Three Habits to Influence Others and Make Things Happen

Chapter 10. Sound Decisive: Stop Babbling and Backpedaling

When you open your mouth to speak, do your words sound decisive or wishy-washy? Do you display confidence or come across as insecure? Do people take you seriously or ignore what you say?

Sound Like a Wimp and You'll Be Treated Like One

If it's the latter, it's time to stop wavering and start firming up your communications. If you sound like a wimp, you'll be treated like one.

The language of leadership is decisive. Using weak language strips you of power and blocks your ability to convince others and determine outcomes. Your capacity to communicate decisions is one of the most telling measures of your power and influence. Gridlock and delay are the outcomes of indecision. When you sound indecisive, you're collapsing under your own weight. You're inadvertently sabotaging your ability to persuade others to make things happen.

When you sound decisive, you capitalize on opportunities and conquer obstacles. Making good decisions quickly and speaking with confidence is a hallmark of a high-performance leader. Confidence is contagious. If you sound self- assured, people will respond with confidence to you and your contributions.

Has this ever happened to you? You shared an idea that was ignored, only to hear it later heralded as a great idea when someone else said it. Chances are the problem was a lack of conviction in how you said it. ...