Power Talk
Using Language to Build Authority and Influence
(237) In business, you are what you say — because spoken language is the most influential type of business communication.
Thus, being a good communicator means understanding how a situation dictates what style of speech will be most effective, and how the style of speech used, in turn, influences the business situation that arises. Knowing the two basic business language styles available and choosing the best allows you to borrow authority from you vocabulary and increase your influence until such time as your expertise and experience levels catch up.
While it is true that great language skills cannot offset poor work indefinitely, excellent work and sound results are generally uncovered and amplified in the workplace through good verbal communication skills. By understanding how language actively shapes every situation, you place yourself in a position to build power and credibility as your excellent work is examined. Language is power — and thus, knowledge of language is effectively a political tool. By building great language skills, you:
In short, by understanding the language of business, you can increase your power and influence.