13 Speak with Power
As much as former secretary of state Alexander Haig craved power, he sure didn’t talk like a blunt commander. He liked to use phrases such as “caveat my response” and “careful caution.” Speaking like a bureaucrat not only undermines your point but also makes it harder for others to understand and trust you. Set a goal as a manager of becoming a plainspoken, no-nonsense communicator.
Even if you ascended into management thanks to your technical know-how or your track record of hard work, a good bit of your success now rests on your ability to speak with power. When you talk, you need to ensure others listen.
A mumbling or wishy-washy speaker will prove a dud as a manager. You must state your position clearly and make it hard ...
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