Speaking with the Voice of Authority: How it Builds Gravitas

After body language, the next biggest impact on your gravitas and authority is how you speak: the words you use and how you say them. Your objective is to acquire the voice of authority: to have people want to hear what you say and pay attention to it.

So, in this video, we look at five ways to say what you want to say, with the voice of authority.

Watching this video is worth 4 Management Courses CPD Points*.
(See below for more details)

This video is part of course module number 1.5.6
Program 1: Managing Yourself
Course 5: Personal Impact
Section 6: Gravitas

Primary videos that precede this video include:
- Presence, Charisma, Gravitas: What's the Difference?    • Presence, Charisma, Gravitas: What's ...  
- The Trust Equation - Gravitas needs Trust    • What is the Trust Equation? - Gravita...  
- Credibility: Gain Gravitas through Knowledge and Experience    • Credibility: Gain Gravitas through Kn...  
- The Presence of Gravitas: How Deliberate Pacing makes People Take Note    • The Presence of Gravitas: How Deliber...  

The Next video to watch is:
- The Power of Silence: How to Use it to Enhance Your Gravitas    • Power of Silence: Transform Your Grav...  
- Style and Presentation to Enhance Your Gravitas    • Style and Presentation to Enhance You...  
- Avoid Leaking Authority and Giving up Gravitas    • Avoid Leaking Authority and Giving up...  

LESSON NOTES
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The five ways to speak with the voice of authority are:
1. Say it with questions: use questions to uncover the information you need others to understand
2. Say it with a rich, relaxed voice that conveys strength and confidence
3. Say it eloquently, by choosing carefully the words you use
4. Emphasize the words that carry the impact of your message, rather than shouting them all, and losing your authority
5. Say it with pace and pauses. By slowing down, you strengthen your message and boost your authority

RECOMMENDED EXERCISE
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Continue your Personal Confidence Log from the last videos, focusing on your voice of authority for the next five weeks:
1. When you speak, do people listen? Over the next two weeks notice how people respond to you - particularly in meetings where other people are also speaking. At the end of the fortnight, reflect on what you've noticed and make some notes. (2 MC CPD Point)
2. Did you notice yourself asking questions? Over the next week make a deliberate effort to ask more questions and offer fewer opinions. Use your questions and the answers to frame your opinions. At the end of the week, reflect on what you've noticed. (3 MC CPD Points)
3. Over the following week focus on your language: the words you use. Speak less often and take your time to choose your words with care. Use fewer words and use established words. But also cut out overly-complex and jargon words. Aim to communicate with simple, powerful sentences to give you the voice of authority. At the end of the week, reflect on what you've noticed. (3 MC CPD Points)
4. For the final week, pay attention to how you use your voice to strengthen your impact, authority and gravitas. Slow down, breathe well and let your voice relax. Use deliberate pacing and pausing to slow down and emphasize your key words. But avoid the risk of becoming ponderous and portentous. That's not authority - it will just make you look pretentious. Moderation is key - add a little at a time. At the end of the week, reflect on what you've noticed. (3 MC CPD Points)

DOWNLOADS
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RECOMMENDED READING
=====================
- Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges https://geni.us/SCerYBh
- Executive Presence: The Art of Commanding Respect Like a CEO https://geni.us/QqYV

Management Courses Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Points
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Each video has two levels of MC CPD points. For this video:
- If you simply watched the video, record 4 MC CPD points
- If you also carried out all of the recommended exercises, score a total of 15 MC CPD points
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