In today’s fast-paced world, it’s more important than ever to get your point across clearly and confidently. You likely have many great ideas, but there is a skill in being able to verbalize these so that others listen and take notice. It’s not just about what you say but how you say it.
If you want your words to have impact, incorporate these 10 phrases and watch how people start paying attention.
1. “I think I’m hearing you. My perspective is this…”
It’s important to communicate to others that you’re listening and hearing them. These are two different things. Everyone listens, but not everyone hears and comprehends. Furthermore, you want to be able to demonstrate that you are listening and comprehending by offering something valuable to the conversation. Additionally, using this phrase is a good way to clarify the conversation so you can be sure you understand what’s being said.
2. “I’m confident the right approach is…”
People understand messages when they are delivered in a direct way. Subtext isn’t always easy to see. Others may overlook it, or they may not be interested in hearing it in the first place. By using this phrase, you are directly communicating to others that you are not only confident but that you also have reasons and evidence to back up your claim. That’s important because that’s how you best convince others.
3. “That’s an interesting point; let me add…”
Acknowledging others’ ideas gives them space to say their piece and feel like they’re contributing. Even if you don’t use their ideas or the idea is wrong, making other people feel as though they are heard communicates confidence. The reason it communicates confidence is that it demonstrates you are secure enough to hear out what they have to say. People without confidence often try to railroad conversations or decisions so that way they can’t be proven wrong.
4. “My suggestion is…”
Making and following through on suggestions gives you an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and a proactive attitude toward problems. A proactive attitude shows confidence because it indirectly tells others that you feel you are knowledgeable and secure enough to make a suggestion. People who lack confidence are often wallflowers, more content to sit back and watch other people do the driving instead.
5. “That’s a good thought, and I’d like to suggest another idea.”
Confidence balances respect for others and respect for yourself. In using this phrase, you acknowledge other people’s contributions while still making yours known. Furthermore, it demonstrates active listening when you acknowledge their contribution. In many cases, most people will have something to add to the conversation, and this phrase helps get everyone involved.
6. “I’ve given this a lot of thought, and I think…”
This phrase communicates preparation and confidence in your conclusions. Other people will conclude that you are confident if you sound self-assured about the information that you bring to the table. By using this phrase, you are telling others that you’ve spent additional time, possibly more time than others, considering the best approach and the outcome to get there.
7. “I don’t have all of the answers, but I will do some research…”
There is no greater demonstration of self-assurance and humility than admitting that you don’t know something. When you do, you’re telling other people that not only are you confident enough to admit when you don’t know something, but that you are confident in your ability to find the answer. That is a strong leadership quality that will cause others to look to you when they do need answers.
8. “Allow me to clarify my point so there’s no confusion.”
In many cases, it’s important to maintain control of the conversation so it does not wander off on a tangent. Sometimes, people don’t understand, and they need to know that you have the confidence and ability to help them better understand. Furthermore, this demonstrates your confidence in your leadership abilities because you can take responsibility for ensuring understanding rather than blaming a lack of understanding on the other person.
9. “What I’ve noticed is…”
People will only understand your confidence if they can see how you act and think. By using this phrase, you are introducing your thoughts and showing that you are a valuable contributor to the conversation. Since everyone is a unique person, it is likely that they will have unique opinions and perspectives about a situation too, and this phrase encourages that diversity of thought.
10. “I’m sure we can find a solution that works for everyone.”
Confidence is often rooted in optimism. Pessimism is usually a sign that a person has low self-esteem because their doom-and-gloom attitude implies that they don’t believe they are capable of finding a solution. Not only that, but using this phrase shows leadership and a willingness to collaborate with others who may be more knowledgeable and experienced while still influencing the outcome yourself.
