Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say

Within the last decade there has been a great deal of research on the topic of powerful language. Powerful language is interpreted as direct, persuasive, and believable, resulting in a credible and positive image for a speaker. Nonpowerful language is interpreted as less credible. In order to use the most powerful language that you can, avoid the following types of communication.

• Disclaimers. Disclaimers are phrases preceding a message that limit the meaning of the latter part of the sentence and lessen your credibility as a speaker. Avoid phrases such as:
• I’m really not an expert in this area, but…
• This answer is probably wrong, but…
• I’m such an idiot…
• I’m stupid…
  
• Nonfluencies. Nonfluencies (also referred to as vocalized pauses) refer to “uh,” “ah,” “uhm,” “er,” “like,” and “you know” that are interjected as a speaker searches for another word. The use of nonfluencies is a subconscious habit that most audiences find annoying. In order to eliminate nonfluencies, be aware, settle for silence instead of nonstop talking, and focus on the information you want to convey.
  
• Overuse of Pronouns. Always define ambiguous pronouns. It’s a common occurrence for business professionals to state, “We need to do this,” or “It happened that way.” The problem is that many people won’t know who or what the pronouns refer to. So get in the habit of defining your pronouns.

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