Want to sound powerful? 🗣️ Say less!

Ever walk out of a meeting thinking...

• “Ugh, why did I say all that?” 

• “Was it me or did I ramble a lot?” “

• I wish I had just paused for a second.”

Me too! I’ve been there, especially during moments when I wanted to sound smart, prove my worth, or mask my nerves. My instinct? Fill the space. Stay “on.” Keep talking.

But here's the truth no one tells you early in your career:

👉 Chattiness can shrink your presence. Silence can expand it.

Over-explaining, rapid-firing ideas, or nervously filling every silence can make you sound uncertain—even when you’re not! The more we talk to prove ourselves, the less weight our words carry.

But when you master the quiet moments—the pause before you speak, the stillness when you enter a room, the grounded way you listen, you instantly command more respect. You don’t just sound confident. You feel it.

A Harvard and Wharton study found that people who spoke less in group settings were actually perceived as more powerful—as long as their silence was intentional. Pausing before speaking gave their words more weight and led others to rate them as higher-status individuals.

So if you want your words to land with power, focus first on the silence that comes before them. Try these tips:

3 Quick Confidence Moves (No Words Required)

1. Interpersonal: The Confident Listener’s Gaze

When someone else is speaking, don’t just mentally wait for your turn. Face them with an open, anticipatory look. Tune all the way in. Nod when something resonates. Calmly and consistently, let your face show you’re present. This signals authority without saying a word. A confident person doesn’t scramble for attention—they give it generously. People trust those who actually listen. To sum it up, if you want to stand out, start by tuning in!

2. Embodied: The Grounded Entrance

Before you walk into the room or sit down at the table, pause. Plant both feet. Roll your shoulders down and back. Breathe into your belly. Feel the ground beneath you. This simple moment of stillness shifts you out of bringing frenzied energy from an earlier meeting and into confident presence. Now visualize it: unlike entering the room in a hurry or shuffling a disheveled pile of papers, you're walking in with purpose. Long strides and head held tall. People can feel when someone is settled in their body. You’ll feel calmer—and project more command.

3. Mindset: The Internal Filter

Confidence starts in your head before it ever shows up in your voice. Before jumping in to speak, ask yourself: “What actually needs to be said here? What’s valuable or essential—not just impressive?” True confidence isn't speaking just to fill the space. It's bringing substance. That brief check-in with yourself not only clarifies your thinking, it shows. You come across as thoughtful, not reactive. Intentional, not performative. And when you think before speaking, people lean in. It’s about choosing your moment—and owning it when it comes. Because when you don’t overtalk, people listen harder when you do.

Before your next big meeting or moment, try this: Don’t obsess over what you’ll say. Focus on how you’ll show up. The grounded breath. The focused gaze. The pause before you speak.

Because real confidence? It walks in before you do. And if your presence speaks volumes, you won’t need to shout. Now go practice your silent power. And hey, let me know in the comments about a time you said less...and ended up getting more. I'm all ears!