8 Communication Hacks I Use To Appear More

Senior As a Young Employee

Become more in uential by learning the language of these subtle cues

Hate it when you are not taken seriously?

When I started working as a 24-year-old woman, I struggled. How to command

attention? How not to be dismissed for my size, gender, and lack of wrinkles or
gray hair?

I’ve learned hacks to appear more senior. To be more influential. Within two
years as a product manager, I was promoted to lead a team of product managers.
And I’m now an MBA student at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

These communication hacks can also help you appear more senior and be more
influential.

1. Speak slower than what feels natural

When we speak fast, it’s as if we’re worried we’ll get interrupted otherwise.
I rush when I worry my thoughts aren’t worth listening to. But how do we slow
down… in practice? Speech coach Jamie Chapman says that telling ourselves to
speak slowly zaps the energy out of our speech.

Instead, Chapman suggests:

(a) emphasizing select words, and
(b) deliberately pausing.

2. Interrupted? Then interrupt the interrupter

Did someone jump in and take the word from you, while you were talking?

Don’t just let it happen. Reclaim the word: “May I finish?” No need to wait for a
pause. Interrupt the interrupter. I first tried this in a role play in the Stanford
MBA class Leadership Laboratory. It blew my mind how quickly it established
my influence.

Next time, try “May I finish?” If that’s not enough, try these other tips from
Wendy R.S. O’Connor.

What’s obvious to you, often isn’t to others.

By explaining the bigger picture, you help others see it too. And if you’re speaking
to someone senior who already knows it, you help them see where your work fit
in.

4. Avoid making statements sound like questions

“Your statement lost its effect when you ended it on a high pitch,” a group
member told me. Upspeak, it’s called. I do it when I feel uncertain.

But upspeak loses credibility and influence. And it’s unnecessary. If it’s important
to convey our uncertainty, we can use words like “I think.” We can even pose a
question formulated grammatically as a question should be.

Caveat: Someone else’s upspeak is no excuse to be dismissive. As

leaders and colleagues, we should strive to hear what our
colleagues have to say even if they use this speech pattern.
Give your statements the punch they deserve.
5. Provide structure with signposts
Using signposts — that is, terms that provide structure and transitions — is a hack
that instantly improves clarity.

Communication coach Alexander Lyon describes how to use “first,” “second,” and
“third” to indicate shifts between our main points. He also explains classic
transitions and what he calls summary transitions, to help the listener when you
shift from one topic to the next.

Signposts give clarity. And clarity is influential.

6. Cut the u in emails

“Fine. When will the report be ready? — Jeff.”

Ever noticed how senior leaders can write such short, direct emails? I tend to
embellish my message with “dear,” “hope you’re well,” “kind regards,” and other
fluffy formalities.

The formalities are (often) not needed.

7. Replace exclamation marks with periods
See how junior an email saturated with exclamation marks looks:

Hi, all!
Hope you’re as excited as I am for tomorrow! We’re celebrating
our accomplishments with cake! Join us tomorrow at 2 pm!
See you soon!
And why the exclamation marks? Why not simply:

Hi, all.
Hope you’re as excited as I am for tomorrow. We’re celebrating our
accomplishments with cake. Join us tomorrow at 2 pm.
See you soon.

8. Take physical space

“Playing high (…) will look like a very open, expansive, relaxed
body,” says Deborah Gruenfield, a Stanford professor and author of Acting with
Power.

Often find yourself with crossed legs, or bent over looking small? Open up your
posture. Take up more physical space.