To ‘make people want to listen to you,’ do 2 simple things, says communication expert
Highly successful people say less and give the answer first, says John Bowe, who trains executives to communicate effectively.
TL;DR
- Executive presence is not about appearance or acting, but about demonstrating good judgment through communication.
- Saying less and stripping away extra words, filler words, hedges, jargon, and extraneous explanations enhances authority.
- Starting every answer with the main point, followed by three to five supporting reasons, organizes thinking and keeps the audience engaged.
- Concise, declarative language and prioritizing answers make responses intentional and easy to follow, building confidence and genuine authority.