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I have a confession to make.
When I was growing up, I never had any authority.
I know what you’re thinking.
Most kids don’t have any authority.
But as the youngest child in an extended family of teenagers and adults, I was often left out of my cousin’s games and “private” conversations.
My opinions and thoughts never mattered.
This of course made me hungry to build authority.
So I dedicated my 20s and 30s to studying, observing, analyzing and building that authority. And I’m sharing the blueprint that I created with you.
You can use this strategy whether you’re talking to your team, giving a presentation or speaking on camera.
🔥 Balance aspiration and actionability in your words
Aspiration gives your audience goals.
Actionability gives them concrete next steps.
Too much aspiration = empty promises, low trust.
Too much actionability = low motivation, high stress.
🔥 Transparency builds trust
You can’t look up to someone you don’t trust.
And you can’t trust someone who has something to hide.
But watch-out: Sometimes transparency about things that are beyond the team’s control might make them feel helpless!
🔥 Learn to speak and listen simultaneously
When you’re speaking, learn to read the room.
Are people listening?
Are they speaking up or are they bored/afraid/uninterested?
The earlier you can engage your audience, the easier it will be to get their buy-in.
🔥 Balance questions with advocacy
Asking questions is great.
But asking a lot without standing for something doesn’t help build a “leadership” persona.
Too many questions = interrogation.
Too much advocacy = forcing your point of view.
🔥 Build stories worth telling
Keep in mind what you want to stand for, and what you want to inspire in your team or audience: integrity, curiosity, grit etc.
Find different stories from your everyday life that contribute to those values and tell them in every speaking opportunity.
Sending you lots of love this Saturday for a great week ahead where you SMASH speaking every chance you get.
