I recently saw the movie, “The Kings Speech” and would highly recommend it to anyone. The performances were so powerful and certainly made me think about how important speech is to our success and our self-esteem.

Many years ago people were schooled in elocution and speech in a very formal manner. Today, it seems those classes have gone by the way side. Some people take speech in high school or college, but it does not seem to be emphasized like it used to be. However, this does not lessen the importance of proper speech and the impact it can have on how we are perceived by others. Our accents, the words we use, the colloquialisms and idioms can say a great deal about us.

Highly successful people usually understand the power of language and how their delivery of that language commands attention. Certainly, Winston Churchill, FDR, and even Hitler, just to name a few, had that ability. I think they also must have loved words and speaking.

The power of how one speaks is still important today, maybe even more so, because we are all so hooked into technology and we communicate face to face, less and less.

Think about your speaking style, tape your voice reciting a poem or some wonderful prose and see what you think. If you do not like what you hear there are things you can do about it.

Some of the etiquette involved with a good first impression has a great deal to do with how you sound. For instance:

• Saying “yes” instead of “yeah” will sound more intelligent and more professional.
• Check the tone of your voice. If you know you have an annoying pitch to your voice, seek professional help from a voice coach.
• Monitor your voice volume. Being too loud when you talk can leave a bad impression and be very distracting to others.
• Avoid filler words and phrases such as, “ya know”, “I mean, like.”
• Avoid slang whenever possible.
• Say “hello” instead of “hi”
• Keep swear words under your breath. In spite of the fact that we hear them everywhere these days, epithets and coarse language can be very offensive to many people and it is unprofessional.
• Use powerful pauses in your speech.
• Don’t interrupt. Allow others to finish their sentences and thoughts before offering your response.
• Speak with confidence. Stand tall; shoulders back and weight on both feet.

The next time you hear someone speak that really gets your attention; pay attention to their style and delivery. That style is probably very carefully cultivated.