The words we choose (or don’t choose) directly impact how we come across.

Whether it’s in speech or the written word, disempowering words can quietly sneak into your vocabulary and make you sound ‘less than’. But with a few simple swaps and a bit of awareness, it’s easy to dial up the impact of your words for a more confident voice.

Ironically, when people want to speak with more authority, they tend to add words in. But it’s often the words you take away that have the most impact.

Here’s a list of reductive and redundant words to remove from your vocabulary to add authority to your written and spoken words.

• I think… ‘I think it’s a good idea’ vs ‘It’s a good idea’. It immediately dilutes your point. The same applies to ‘I was wondering’, ‘I guess that’… etc.
• I’m just… ‘I’m just checking in to ask if…’ vs ‘I’m checking in to ask if…’
• I’m only… ‘I’m only part-time’ vs ‘I’m part-time’.
• Sorry… only say sorry if you really are sorry. Try ‘thank you for being understanding’ instead.
• I’ll try/aim to… ‘I’ll try and get that done by Monday’. ‘I aim to complete this by…’ Meh. Give these a go instead: ‘I will complete this by…’, or ‘I’ll do this on Monday’.
• I should/I’d better… this quietly implies obligation/subservience over intention.
• I’m probably wrong, but… you’re probably not.
• But… speaking of ‘but’, it tends to block or negate what’s gone before. ‘Yet’ can often be a helpful swap. ‘I’m tired but happy’ suggests the only important bit is the happiness, negating the importance of acknowledging you’re tired. ‘I’m tired, yet I’m happy’ gives equal weight to both feelings.
• I can’t… ‘I’m not willing to’, ‘I don’t want to’. Or in a learning context, ‘I’ve not learned that yet’.
• This might be a stupid question but… questions are never stupid. It’s how we learn and build understanding.
• Off the top of my head... when you’ve been thinking it through for ages.
  

Punctuation matters, too
It doesn’t stop at words. The exclamation mark has a lot to answer for, and should be used very, very sparingly. In 95% of cases, you can do without it. An overuse of exclamation marks in writing suggests a junior, over-enthusiastic tone. Get rid.

A more empowered voice begins with awareness.

• Build in thinking time to respond rather than react.
• Notice your use of empowering/disempowering language, and that of others.
• Think before you speak/write (and read emails again before sending them).
  

In a world of noise, claim back your measured silence: the gaps in the conversation, the spaces between the words, the pause for thought. Use this as your most empowering tool for communication.

Which words or phrases would you add to the list?