How to Speak With Authority

Today is Thursday, so this post is on communication skills.

I mentioned Women’s Edge Magazine in yesterday’s post (www.womensedgemagazine.com).  It is a great print mag.  I found several articles in the January issue that I really liked.  One article listed tips for speaking with authority.  Since presentation skills are a critical component of communication skills, I’ve decided to list a few of them here, along with the names of the women who provided them.

Tips for Speaking With Authority

• “Relax.  If you know your subject, it should come naturally.”  Cindy Anderson, CPA
• “Take lot’s of deep breaths before you speak.  Try to convey a sense of fun and spontaneity.”  Lisa Grele Barrie
• “Make sure you’ve planned what you’re going to say.  Avoid the dreaded fillers like ‘um, like and you know’.”  Diane Bliss
• “Your believability and credibility depend on your reputation, so make sure your audience knows your qualifications beforehand.  Also, don’t hesitate to appeal to emotion as well as reason.”  Patty Briguglio
• “Eliminate PowerPoint and just talk to your audience!  Share conversation as well as information.”  Mary Contando
• “Be authentic and stand in it.  Remember, it’s about who are, and not what you can sell someone.”  Jan DeLory
• “Be comfortable with yourself, so you can connect with others on a real and personal level.”  Lynn F. Dickey, PhD
• “Make sure you are engaged, maintain eye contact…and don’t hold your breath.”  Jill Wells Heath
• “Be willing to risk what you have to get what you want.  Stand firm on your principles even when your knees are shaking.”  Catherine Hoag
• “Take up as much physical space as possible when speaking.  Open yourself up to others and they will open up to you.”  Erika Mangrum
• "Simple…Never doubt yourself.”  April Mills
• “Be yourself and you’ll have the credibility you desire.”  Caire B. Niver
• “Adopt a warm and friendly style to put others at ease.”  Billie Redmond
• “Know your material and communicate it in a manner that inspires confidence and action.”  Chris Young

Review these 14 pieces of common sense advice the next time you have to make a presentation.  Take them to heart and put them to work.  You’ll deliver a dynamite presentation.  I guarantee it.  After all, they’re just common sense.

That’s it for today.  Thanks for reading.  Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense.  I am not posting regularly on my www.CommonSenseGuy.com blog right now, as I want to concentrate on this one.  It is still up though.  Please don’t cancel your RSS feed as I will be posting there occasionally.  And, you can still get a free ebook version of my book 4 Secrets of High Performing Organizations by visiting www.CommonSenseGuy.com . 

I’ll see you around the web and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

Bud

PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand, my fundraising page is still open.  Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.