Stop undermining yourself
3
Stop undermining yourself. Some of the things you do to demonstrate your authority may actually be making you appear weaker. If you seem to be trying too hard to “show who’s boss,” you’re more likely to be mocked than respected.
- Unless you’re a drill sergeant, getting angry and shouting are not usually the best ways to demonstrate your authority. Likewise, appearing defensive when questioned or challenged tends to indicate weakness, not strength.[4]
- Some people think being authoritative means making snap decisions and sticking with them no matter what. In reality, taking the time (whenever possible) to think through a problem and making a calm, reasoned decision — and then sticking to it — demonstrates secure authority.[5]
- To convince others of your authority, you have to convince yourself first. Once you embrace the authority you know you have, you won’t feel the need to try so hard to prove it to other people. Your confidence will speak for you.[6]
How to Appear More Authoritative – Focus on the goal, not popularity
2
Focus on the goal, not popularity. While Machiavelli’s advice that it is better to be feared than loved may be a bit extreme for a workplace setting, it is true that strong leaders tend not to worry too much about the popularity of their decisions. Having authority is not easy or fun; it is often hard work, but work that needs to be done — by you.[2]
- Nobody wants to be hated, of course, but you’ll probably find that being direct, making the tough decisions, and doing what must be done will earn the respect of others. If you focus too much on trying to please everyone, you’re likely to sacrifice respect for the sake of some superficial likeability.[3]
- Deep down, most people would probably rather follow someone they respect than someone they like.
How to Appear More Authoritative – Creating an Authoritative Look
-
1Know and accept your actual authority. While there can be benefits to appearing authoritative in excess of your actual authority, the focus in this article is on enhancing the appearance to match the reality of your authority. To do so, especially in a business setting, it is important that you are clear on exactly what authority you do possess.[1]- If your powers and responsibilities have not been clearly defined, discuss the particulars of your authority with your boss. Having things specifically laid out for you may make it easier for you to accept and represent this authority.
- Another benefit of conferring regularly with your boss is making sure that you are on the same page. Making a decision, only to be quickly contradicted or overruled by your supervisor, tends to diminish your appearance of authority.
How to Appear More Authoritative – Creating an Authoritative LookCommunicating with AuthorityBuilding Confidence in Your Authoritative SelfCommunity Q&A
Are you tired of being ignored, undermined, or disrespected? What is true in the business world is often true in other aspects of life: if you can’t project the authority you currently have, you aren’t likely to obtain additional authority. Appearing more authoritative doesn’t mean being a bully or a dictator. It does mean presenting yourself with confidence and demonstrating an unwavering willingness to get things done. To be authoritative, you don’t need to be liked; you need to be someone other people want to follow.
from: http://www.wikihow.com
Media Training Basics: warmth
Media Training Basics: warmth
Warmth is perhaps the most elusive. Some people have it by the bucket-load even if they are not the most polished interviewee. It is worth a lot. If you don’t have it naturally on-air you can try the following things.
- Try smiling more, particularly at the beginning or end of an interview. Even on radio, you can hear a smile.
- Try to be less formal. Often people lack warmth because they think they are required to be very, very serious and correct.
- A trick I have often used is to ask the interviewee to pretend they really like the interviewer. Of course, in reality, they probably hate the presenter and the process but if they can pretend or act ‘attraction’ or ‘affection’ it will come across. Clearly, this could be taken too far and it will be acting. When coaching people we find that once they hit the right tone – and then watch it back on video playback – they can usually find it again. With coaching, it will become their default on-air tone at which point it is ‘job done’.
Getting the tone right is half the battle and will compensate for other missteps in an interview. In the end ‘people buy people’ as the saying goes: so developing a good on-air presence is something worth working on.