Effective Executive Communication

As an executive, when you communicate you want to convey confidence and credibility, and you want people to feel compelled to listen. Considering that a lot of what is communicated is non-verbal, body language and vocal inflection can miscommunicate your real message. Use these seven tips to increase the effectiveness of your communication and ensure that you always get your point across.

Recognize the Power in Your Posture: Your communication starts with the stance you choose when you speak. Whether you are talking on the phone or you are in a meeting, it is always best to stand up when you speak. To really get your point across pull your shoulders back to slightly exaggerate your posture and open up your diaphragm. Do not play with a pen, fidget or cross your arms and legs when you speak. Using open body language conveys that you mean what you say and are open to the input of others.

Project Your Voice: Recognize that the purpose of the volume of your voice is not exclusively to ensure that the listeners hear you. Volume adds authority to your vocal presentation and it is important to speak up to project the volume that demands attention.

Be Articulate: The most prevalent challenge in everyday business communication is the lack of clear articulation in conversation. Every time you use a speech filler as in “ah” or “um” or “you know” or “so,” you are detracting from the confidence you want your words to convey and you diminish the power of your message. Ask a trusted colleague to tell you what your speech fillers are and work to eliminate them. You can also record a few of your phone conversations; you will be surprised at what you hear. Remember to be clear about the message you are delivering. Do not cloud the issues you are talking about. If you are delivering a message about appropriate office attire, you do not want to start giving detailed messages about the upcoming company picnic.

Pay Attention to Your Pace: Everyone has their own natural pace for speaking. When we are nervous many people really speed up. When we talk too fast we convey a lack of experience, and we do not allow time for our listeners to comprehend what we are saying. Pay attention to your pace, be sure to breathe and do not be afraid to pause.

Keep In Eye Contact: Another huge challenge many executives have when they are talking is that they look everywhere except at the people to whom they are speaking. Do not let that be you. When you avoid looking at people, they may subconsciously feel that you are not telling the truth and you are also more likely to lose their attention. Staying in eye contact makes people feel like you are speaking to them personally rather than just speaking out loud.

Be Prepared Even When You Think It Is Not Necessary: So often executives think that because they know their work or their projects so well that they can “wing” a briefing or even a fairly long report or presentation. Do not do it. Winging it never works well unless you have delivered the same message or report or presentation a hundred times.

Take five minutes to figure out your talking points, or take even longer for a major presentation. Preparation makes you feel confident and ensures your nerves will not get the best of you. Even before you call a client or leave a message for your boss do not hesitate to take a few moments to jot down your ideas. This way you will always come across as the competent professional that you are.

Be Consistent: Keep your message consistent. Do not contradict yourself from one communication to the next, or be inconsistent in your words on the same subject to different people. This can quickly put your coworkers in the position of distrusting you. Consistent communication is key to building confidence in the workplace.

Every time you speak you solidify or confuse the effective executive image you have been working hard to create. Identify which of these communication areas need the most attention from you and get started today. Your communication is the cornerstone of your executive image. Make sure yours is working for you.