It’s not what you say, it’s the art of how you say it. Art? Yes, language and tone is a powerful tool to persuade action as a leader. By choosing your words carefully and paying close attention to tone, you control your messaging. Through this careful messaging, you can persuade and change how people view you and your leadership. Read below to learn some powerful and persuasive words to use as a leader.
The power of a single word
When you do not have a lot of words to use, each choice matters and carries a lot of weight. With Microsoft reporting that the average attention span is now eight seconds, it’s easier to capture an audience with a small email and simple instructions. Every word matters.
At first glace, persuasive words to use as a leader will not seem like the familiar power words used in marketing: Exclusive! Guaranteed! Free!
Instead, these leadership power words are subtle. They work with most contexts and are naturally used in conversation – you likely use them everyday! But in this instance, they will be used very strategically.
Being a powerful leader does not mean using dominating words where you intimidate someone into compliance. It is all about rapport and using persuasive words to soften people into agreement. Most people do not want to work for a dictator – so do not use the language of one!
Don’t be a tone-deaf leader
If you sound confident in your message, the audience will be convinced too.
In the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the pitch of your voice not only conveys confidence, it does not undermine the sincerity of your message. By delivering your message confidently, it sends a linguistic signal that you strongly endorse the message that you are conveying.
To do this, they found that the speaker grew louder and varied their volume throughout the conversation. It did not feel that they were yelling – just passionate and confident in their position. In some instances, the tone was more important than the actual words being spoken.
If you want to increase your chances of persuasion, do it face to face rather than via email. By using digital means, you miss out on using the tone of your voice to convey confidence in your position.
Here are some persuasive words to use as a leader
Proven
Not everyone enjoys a novel idea. This lets the team know that you are not taking risks – just be sure to back it up with data!
Willing
When you want someone to entertain your perspective or try your suggested action, “I know that you think that X would work, but would you be willing to give Y a try?” They say yes far often than they say no.
I put this power word at the top because as a leader, it has been the most successful for me. I have used it to keep spiraling conversations on track when the reason for disliking something has started repeating itself – but then they will agree to try.
I will acknowledge what they said, restate what I would like to try, and then ask if they would be willing to try it my way. I have not heard a no yet. I am a leader that will admit if I make a mistake though, and try a different course. So, I have built my influence with asking if someone will be willing because they trust I will change course if wrong.
Speak
“I need to talk to you” sounds ominous, doesn’t it?
Yet it is the less formal version. There have been too many serious conversations that come out of “talking” that speak is less likely to illicit a panic reaction before any words have been exchanged. This makes it a powerful word to control a negative reaction that may be unnecessary.
Results
You will tell them exactly how they will benefit.
Because
It provides rationale as to why you are making the request. It increases buy-in because you have demonstrated thought in your position. It also gives you a double bonus of power words because you can tag it with additional power words.
For instance, “I think that we should prioritize project X, because the results have proven this approach is successful and would be a quick win for our team.”
You
This engages the listener right away, because this will directly apply to them. An engaged listener is more likely to listen and respond. This paves the road to apply some of the other persuasive words on requesting an action.
It seems like
It’s a way to put an observation or concern out for conversation without sounding accusatory. The conversation has room to occur because you did mention that there can be room for misinterpretation on your part.
Think about this example:
“It seems like you are having difficulty coming in to work on time” vs. “You are always late”. Same problem, but which one do you think will start a conversation about how their tardiness effects the team? Which one opens the door to a back and forth conversation that will potentially come up with a solution or accommodation as to why they are always late on Tuesdays? An observation is better than an accusation. Solution finding is the reason that you are having a conversation in the first place.
Still a problem? Read here about how to provide feedback to staff that lack self awareness. Only 15% of staff are self aware, what could do wrong?!
The word that does more harm than good to persuade action as a leader
Just
Ellen Petry Leanse wrote an enlightening article about how women tend to use “just” as permission word. It’s the opposite of a power word!
I have caught myself using this when I pop in on my superiors with open door policies, “do you have just a moment”?
Why do I do this? Why was I asking for permission to provide an update on something they needed? They have open door policies because they are available and want to hear my update, dammit! I found that heading in to my boss’ office was when this word leaked out, so I mentally check myself before I head in there every time. Instead, my boss gets a hello followed by, “I have an update on X”. They know it was quick by the length of time I am there!
Using your tone and careful word choices, these persuasive words to use as a leader will become a natural part of your vocabulary. The more authentic these words sound, the more influence they will have because you will appear confident in your messaging. It’s an influential leader snowball that keeps rolling for you by making these simple adjustments to your persuasive word choices.