October 19, 2017
Last week I attended a Building a Culture of Health in Newark Conference on the NJIT Campus. Since I only needed to be there a few hours to capture a story, my husband volunteered to drive me there. That was the good news. The bad news is he hates to use the navigation system.
October 12, 2017
For the past 15 years, my friend Alana has been complaining about every job and boss she has ever had. One day in the midst of her lamenting about her current position, I asked her pointedly, “What is it that you want to do?” She seemed genuinely surprised by the question and responded, “Honestly, I […]
October 5, 2017
Is busy the new badge of honor? Fact is, people are busier than ever. However, far few people are productive. Instead of being busy, why don’t we strive to be more productive in our efforts every day?
September 28, 2017
Don’t you love stories with happy endings? Nina (not her real name) had just about given up on pursuing a communications career. After graduating with both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in communications, she moved back to her hometown of Washington, D.C. and began her earnest job search. However, after three years, she had no luck.
September 14, 2017
A few months ago, I spent the day working with a friend on her resume. She had a high-powered position at one of the Fortune 500 companies and had recently negotiated an exit package with her company. When I asked her why she was leaving, she told me that her relationship with the CEO was not good.
September 7, 2017
Some people cry at the drop of a hat. It takes a lot for me to cry. However, some years ago, I almost broke down. I happened to be presenting a global communications strategy at an executive committee meeting, and the head of the organization stopped me in my tracks and said, “Who told you to present this information?”
August 31, 2017
Have you updated your LinkedIn profile lately? Your online presence is a significant part of your brand. I’m almost embarrassed to admit it, but until recently, I probably had not even looked at mine in umpteen years.
August 24, 2017
Last weekend, I traveled to Pittsburgh, PA for my 40th high school reunion weekend. (I can’t believe I’m that old either!). I attended St. Paul’s Cathedral High School, an all-girls school located in the heart of North Oakland. St. Paul’s merged with another girl’s high school in 1989 and is now known as Oakland Catholic.
August 17, 2017
My niece, Dominique Hooper and her daughter Dejah were recently in Walmart shopping for college stuff. Dejah was getting ready for her freshman debut at Penn State University Park Campus this fall. By the way, Dejah’s high school GPA was 4.0 (just had to do a little bragging).
August 3, 2017
As a native Pittsburgher, I’m a big Steeler fan and many of my Sundays during the football season are spent watching the games with my husband. The thing that always amazes me is how athletes are constantly proving themselves. The ones that are excellent at their craft command large salaries and often break records.
Have you ever been in a meeting where someone begins speaking and almost immediately commands everyone’s attention? They’re not necessarily the loudest person in the room. They may not even have the biggest title. But there’s something about the way they communicate that makes people stop and listen.
That’s vocal authority, and it’s an important part of executive presence.
We often think of executive presence in terms of how leaders carry themselves, how they dress, or how confidently they enter a room. But there’s another element that’s just as important: how you sound when you speak. Your voice sends powerful signals about your confidence, credibility, and ability to lead. And the good news? Vocal authority is a skill you can develop.
I’ve worked with leaders who had tremendous expertise and great ideas but struggled to communicate with authority. They knew their subject matter inside and out, yet their delivery didn’t always reflect their knowledge.
Having expertise and sounding like an expert aren’t always the same thing.
Whether you’re presenting to senior executives, leading a meeting, or having a difficult conversation, your delivery should reinforce your credibility—not undermine it.
Here are five ways to strengthen your vocal authority.
When we’re nervous or eager to share information, we tend to speak too quickly. Unfortunately, rushing can make us sound anxious rather than confident. Slow down, especially when making an important point. Give your audience time to absorb your message. Remember, you don’t have to rush to prove you know what you’re talking about.
Many people are uncomfortable with silence. They fill every pause with um, you know, or so. But a well-placed pause communicates confidence and composure. It also gives your audience time to process what you’ve said.
Confident leaders don’t feel compelled to fill every second with words.
Sometimes we undermine our credibility before we’ve even made our point. Consider the difference between:
“I just wanted to suggest that maybe we reconsider our approach.”
And:
“I recommend we reconsider our approach.”
Same message. Very different impact. You don’t have to sound aggressive. Just be clear, direct, and confident.
When communicating with senior executives, get to the point. Start with your recommendation, then provide the supporting information. For example: “My recommendation is that we delay the launch by two weeks. Here’s why.”
And once you’ve made your point, resist the temptation to keep talking. Overexplaining can weaken an otherwise strong message.
Vocal authority doesn’t mean speaking in a deep voice or maintaining a serious tone throughout every conversation. Use vocal variety. Adjust your pace, volume, and emphasis to reflect what you’re communicating. Your voice should convey enthusiasm, conviction, and confidence when appropriate. And remember, authority doesn’t mean intimidation. You can be warm, approachable, and still communicate with power.
Every time you speak, you’re reinforcing your leadership brand.
Here’s a simple exercise: record yourself delivering a short presentation or explaining an important recommendation. Listen to your pace, tone, word choices, and confidence.
Does your delivery reflect the leader you want others to see?
Executive presence isn’t just about how you look when you walk into a room. It’s also about what people hear when you open your mouth.
The voice of power isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about speaking with confidence and credibility that makes people want to listen.
Hi! I'm LaNella Hooper-Williams. Through my blog, my mission is to give you tips and practical tools that will help you build a powerful brand and accomplish your personal and professional dreams. You’ll learn strategies that help you manage your personal brand, get noticed and rewarded for your unique talents, and gain greater career focus.
