People in their 20s — specifically new graduates and early career professionals — need to cultivate one particular skill if they want to be confident and memorable at work, according to a communication expert.
They have to learn to speak slower, says author and communication consultant Bill McGowan, who has studied the subject for more than 20 years — working as a public speaking coach for celebrities, CEOs and politicians including Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg.
When you talk too quickly, other people may think you’re unsure of yourself, and your message becomes difficult to understand, McGowan says.
“Slow down. Filler language is a product of speed, and the faster you go, the more ‘ums’ and ‘likes’ and ‘you knows’ are going to creep into your vocabulary,” says McGowan, author of “Speak Memorably: The Art of Capturing an Audience.” “The best way you can exude executive presence is to not fly through a report you’re giving to your supervisor or your contribution in a meeting.”
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