As we say goodbye to 2018 and welcome a new year, resolve to make communication your most powerful professional tool! It’s time to inspire, impact, and influence others! Start 2019 off right by making these three resolutions that are simple to start, easy to keep, and will help you communicate your way to success in the new year:
Keep Your Voice Healthy: A strong, dynamic voice is essential in professional communication. This year, eliminate habits that are damaging to their vocal cords. Drink plenty of water, especially before speaking for a long time or in front of a group; dried out vocal cords can decrease the quality of your voice, and are much more susceptible to damage. Avoid habitual throat clearing—each time you clear your throat, your vocal cords slam forcefully into one another, which can cause inflammation and injury over time
Eliminate Filler Words: Most people don’t realize how often they use words like “um”, “uh”, and “like”. Filler words and phrases create an air of insecurity and significantly damage your credibility. Take the time to identify which filler words you use and how often (you should be using no more than two filler words every two minutes!). Then, when you feel the need to use a filler, simply pause instead; you’ll sound much more professional and eloquent.
Take It Slow: People tend to rush their words when they’re nervous or passionate about a topic, two situations that come up frequently when speaking in the workplace. In 2019, resolve to develop a controlled, even rate of speech. You will appear more confident and knowledgeable, and give your listener the impression that what you have to say has value.
What are your goals for 2019? Share your New Year’s resolutions in the comments section below!
If your communication skills are holding you back from professional success and you want to make your communication skills your most powerful professional tool, make sure to pick up a free copy of my e-book “Communicate with Clarity and Confidence!” by subscribing to our newsletter community on our website. In this free resource, I break down the myriad factors that contribute to confident communication and guide you through how to use each aspect to your advantage.
Give us a call and see how Corporate Speech Solutions can improve your professional life! Call us at 212-308-7725 or send us an e-mail at jayne@corporatespeechsolutions.com to learn more. I’d be more than happy to answer any questions you might have!
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