Shadowing Practice: Speak Like the Top 1% of Communicators - Learn English Speaking with Video
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what
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if i told you the top one percent of speakers are
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not smarter than any of us they just know how to speak
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so people listen and in this video you're going to learn how to go from feeling stuck quiet,
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invisible, to confident, respected, and heard.
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As a professional speaker who travels all over the world speaking on the biggest stages,
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I have learned the exact formula that takes a great idea and makes it even more powerful.
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This is something I learned when I was writing my book, Smart Not Loud, How to Get Noticed at Work for All the Right Reasons,
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and it's something that I have an Emmy Award for it.
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So in this video, you're going to get the four tips that will transform you to become a top 1 % speaker.
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By the way, stay until the very end because tip number four is my absolute favorite.
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And it's the one that I use every single day myself.
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Because right now, what I want to help you with is this.
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I don't want you to be sitting next to someone, both of you trying to get the same opportunity, the same next promotion, and it be given to you.
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to someone else.
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I don't want to see someone who is less hardworking than you,
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less accomplished than you, get the recognition and visibility that I believe you deserve.
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So here's the first point.
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You speak like the top 1 %
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when you make the other person feel like they are the most important person in the room.
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Let me say that again.
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You become a top 1 % speaker when you make whoever you're speaking to feel like they are the most important person.
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This is such a powerful shift because it isn't about reducing your filler words or using your body language.
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No. It's about focusing on what actually moves the needle and changes people's perception of you.
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And here's why this is so powerful.
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Right now.
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When I look at the single most common communication mistake smart
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and ambitious professionals make is that they often talk from their own point of view, what they want to say and why it's so important to them.
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Now, if you're like, wait a second.
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But isn't that the point of communications to talk about what I know?
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Well, let me tell you, you're not wrong because research out of harvard found
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that talking about ourselves activates the same reward centers in the brain as food
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and money so of course it feels natural to talk from our point of view it feels good
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But here's what the research actually tells us about how to be effective.
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We have to reverse engineer it.
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You have to make the person you're speaking with feel like They matter.
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Why?
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Because when they feel that, they are activating those same feel -good receptors.
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And when you make them feel good talking to you, when it doesn't feel like a transactional work conversation,
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they'll want to keep talking to you they'll want to keep engaging with you and the best part
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they're gonna think you're a great conversationalist and here's what's interesting The top 1 % don't just hand the floor randomly.
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They ask strategic questions to get the other person talking.
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Questions that position the other person as that expert.
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Questions that signal, I'm here to understand you.
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So here's an actual example.
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In the past, maybe you would have introduced yourself like this.
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I've been in the industry for about 12 years and I've seen a lot of this in my experience.
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And I really feel like the best approach is to examine what this core problem is.
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- Okay, it's not bad.
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I mean, it's clear that you're experienced and you have this point of view.
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But here's another way of posing the exact same thought, but making it feel like you genuinely care about the other person.
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So you can say, so I've been in the industry for 12 years and I've seen a lot of these situations, but I know you have some perspective on this too.
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What are you seeing that the rest of us might be missing?
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that second version does something Powerful.
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It gives the other person this feeling of authority.
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And in doing that, it actually raises yours.
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Now, I'm going to be the first to say I had to relearn this the hard way.
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When I was a young journalist working on TV, I used to walk into interviews with very senior executives, you know, big names, very intimidating people
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that I would basically prepare this whole list of questions that I wanted to ask them.
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senior leader.
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And at the end, I thought I did pretty good because I had asked everything that I had planned to ask.
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But then, the next day, "My boss pulled me into her office and she said, Hey, that interview that you did yesterday,
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I want to give you some feedback.
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She told me that the executive had reached out and said
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that it would be beneficial for me to learn how to be a little bit more
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personable and not just spitfire questions like it was a transaction.
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oh my god i remember sitting there feeling shocked and embarrassed and honestly not quite sure what to do with this information.
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And as I walked back to my desk, I remember I had this moment of clarity.
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It was true.
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I had gone into that conversation thinking about only what I wanted to get out of it.
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I honestly never once made the other person feel like I was genuinely interested and excited to talk with them,
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even though I thought I was asking all the right questions.
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The truth was it was transactional.
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And that's when I realized the top 1 % of every important conversation should have one goal,
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Make the other person feel like they're the most important person in the room.
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by the way this isn't just for like one -on -one
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meetings you have it can be in a group meeting where
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you're speaking to someone it could be the person next to you it could be the person across the room
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but still you're making them feel seen and like their opinion matters
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and that is the quickest way to get them to see you as someone who has
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that incredible speaking plus the emotional intelligence.
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Which goes into my second point.
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You speak like the top 1 % by using silence as a tool.
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I'll be the first to say, I know this is something most of us try to avoid.
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Silence in a conversation feels so awkward.
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Like, what do we do when there's a pause?
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Well, typically, we rush to fill it, we add qualifiers, filler words, we over explain.
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But here is what the top 1%, this is what they do.
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They know that silence isn't empty.
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It's actually doing something.
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Research from the University of Michigan found that speakers who pause deliberately, not because they've lost their train of thought,
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but as an intentional technique,
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are often rated as more confident more authoritative and more credible than speakers who fill every single gap.
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The pause signals, I'm not in a rush.
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I know what I'm saying.
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And I'm just giving you time to let it all sink in.
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I really want this point to land.
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In fact, let me ask you a question right now.
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Who do you think is one of the most effective communicators in the world?
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Whenever I host my communication workshops, I always ask this question.
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I always get the same answer.
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People say, Former US President Barack Obama.
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I don't disagree.
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One of the things he does so powerfully is he uses silence when he speaks.
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there's always a reason for why he intentionally pauses.
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The pause usually happens before an important statement because it's priming the listener's brain.
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And it's telling them that something important is coming up.
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Researchers call this attentional cues.
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And it's nonverbal signals that increases focus and gets others to lean in.
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So the next time you want a sentence to land, you pause to make it memorable.
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Let me give you a real world example to let you visualize this.
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Let's say I was about to give you a recommendation and I said, so I think my recommendation would be, well, I think we should probably move forward with that second option.
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Okay.
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But what if I said the exact same thing like this?
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Thank you.
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My recommendation? is option two.
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Did you notice a difference?
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I intentionally paused to build that anticipation and then I gave you the answer.
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Because even with just that one beat of silence, The brain is interpreting it as meaningful and important.
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So the question is, how do you incorporate this?
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Remind yourself that intentionally pausing can actually make you sound smarter.
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Don't forget that.
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Here's a third point.
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You speak like the top 1 % by controlling the temperature of the room.
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What does that mean?
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It means recognizing that every time you speak, there is emotion in your voice.
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That emotion could signal excitement, urgency, worry, or it could signal monotone and boring.
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And here's what a lot of people don't realize.
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The energy you bring into a conversation actually influences your listeners nervous system.
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Researchers call this emotional contagion, and it's been documented extensively.
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It basically means we unconsciously mirror the emotional state of the person we're listening to.
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So use it to your advantage.
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If you walk into a high stakes meeting feeling anxious, well, your listeners become anxious too.
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If you're flat and monotone, your listeners will become disengaged.
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But if you are grounded, Steady and clear.
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Your listeners start to feel that too.
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In fact, a 2014 study published in Psychological Science magazine found that speakers who use intentional vocal variation,
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pauses, shifting and pacing volume were rated as significantly more persuasive,
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credible and memorable than those who deliver the same thing in a monotone voice.
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Here's an example.
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I'm going to say the next sentence in two different ways and tell me how each one makes you feel.
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Here's the first one.
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I think this is a really good opportunity and I'm excited about it and I hope the team will consider it.
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Here's a second.
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Thank you.
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I think this is a really good opportunity
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and I'm really excited about it and I really hope the team will consider it as well.
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Didn't you see the second one?
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It didn't just land, but I changed my tone and
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that one had weight on the words and how it made you feel.
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Just these small adjustments gave that sense of confidence of someone who knows exactly what they're saying and why it matters.
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So the question is, how do you do this?
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So let's say you have a presentation coming up.
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And as you're practicing, I want you to identify one sentence from each slide that you want people to remember.
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say that sentence over and over again.
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Practice delivering it slowly, maybe with that brief pause,
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with that emphasis, combined with that vocal tone to all signal that this point is important.
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I guarantee if you practice this, people listening will register.
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Here's a fourth point.
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You speak like the top 1 % by incorporating stories into your message.
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Now, this is one of my favorites because it is so effective.
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Yet, so many of us don't use it nearly enough in our everyday speaking.
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Right now, a lot of us default to speaking in corporate jargon.
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For example, saying things like, synergy, bandwidth, alignment, strategic priority.
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And I get it.
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You work in a corporate environment and these phrases get thrown around constantly.
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But the problem is, They don't feel immersive and they certainly don't tell an interesting story.
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Research using fMRI scans found that when people hear abstract language like corporate jargon, just like the one I mentioned,
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only the language processing centers of the brain light up.
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But when people hear sensory language, descriptions, images, stories, multiple regions of the brain activate simultaneously.
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The person listening doesn't just process what you're saying,
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10 % are almost always the best storytellers.
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not because stories are entertaining, but because stories create shared experiences.
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And that influences.
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So, Here's what this actually looks like in practice.
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Let me give you a scenario.
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You might say, We need to be more strategic about our communications approach and ensure cross -functional alignment before we go to market.
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Okay.
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Scenario two.
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Well, right now, marketing is telling one story to the customer.
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Product is telling a different story to engineers.
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Leadership is telling a third story to the board.
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And now we all have three different versions.
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So we need to fix this all before launch.
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The first one was just strategy memo.
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Okay.
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The second one was you could see exactly what the problem is.
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People are talking about different things.
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You see the difference.
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In fact, Whenever I do my keynote presentations, I never start with data or research about why I'm here.
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I always begin with a story myself.
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And let me give you one of my favorite examples.
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So one of my most popular talks is really bringing out the best in people.
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It's a very inspiring talk.
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And instead of diving straight into the research, I always open it up with this story.
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So I will say, So a few months ago, I was on a call with one of my clients.
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and she was feeling extremely frustrated
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and i asked her what was going on she told me
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that she had recently been passed over for a promotion she was really hoping for
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and my client initially she just shrugged it off saying it's no big deal i'll try again next year
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but the longer she sat with that it didn't feel right And she said, wait a second.
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I'm working hard.
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I'm doing good work.
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Why didn't I get that promotion?
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And then I asked her these three questions.
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I said, well, Are you doing good work?
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Yes.
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Are you turning things in on time?
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Yes, of course.
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But are you making sure people keep you?
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Top of mind.
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As I asked her that third question, she sat there kind of stumped.
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This third question is one that I believe is the most important.
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but it's the one that we often don't think about.
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And it's why I'm here today.
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That's the story.
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That's the story I tell every time I open up my keynote speech on building visibility
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because I know that that story draws you in because it's relatable.
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Versus let's say if I had said, building visibility in your career is important.
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People don't remember what you say.
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They remember how you.. you made them feel.
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In fact, poet Maya Angelou says it perfectly.
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People will forget what you said.
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but they will never forget how you made them feel.
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So, to speak like a top 1 % Don't just talk in business terms.
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Use stories.
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So now you have it.
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The secret sauce, how you can speak like the top 1%.
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You make the person feel like they're the most important person in the room because that's real influence.
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Use silence deliberately because silence signals authority in a way words cannot.
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Control the emotional temperature of the room because your nervous system is contagious and speak with stories.
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Because the brain doesn't remember facts and data, it remembers experiences.
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And just like in my book, Smart Not Loud, I talk about how none of this requires you to be loud, aggressive, or boastful.
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It's about being smart in your approach.
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If this was helpful, share this video with someone who needs to hear it.
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And if you want to go deeper on the communicating with confidence tips that I share in my book, comment the word smart below
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and I will send you a link to some of my most popular
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and powerful communication tips that are straight from my book, Smart Not Loud.
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And don't forget to like and subscribe to my channel.
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It is how you can get notified every time a new video drops.
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I look forward to seeing you in our next one.
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Context & Background
In the world of communication, it's often not about what you say but how you say it. The video "Speak Like the Top 1% of Communicators" highlights the crucial difference between simply delivering information and making a genuine connection with your audience. The speaker, an accomplished professional with experience on some of the largest stages globally, asserts that anyone can become a top-tier communicator by focusing on their audience. By understanding and implementing effective communication strategies, individuals can transition from feeling overlooked and unheard to becoming confident and respected figures in their professional lives.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- “What are your thoughts on this?” - This phrase invites the other person to share their insights, emphasizing their expertise.
- “I’d love to hear more about your experience.” - Acknowledging the other person's background makes them feel valued.
- “Can you tell me how you approached this situation?” - Asking for details positions the other person as an authority in their experiences.
- “What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?” - This not only shows interest but also encourages deeper discussion.
- “What advice would you give someone new to this field?” - This question fosters a mentoring atmosphere, allowing the speaker to shine.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
To effectively integrate the techniques discussed in the video into your English speaking practice, follow these simple steps:
- Choose Your Source: Start with the video transcript or similar dialogue that resonates with you. Listening to a proficient speaker will help with context and flow.
- Identify Key Techniques: Pay attention to the phrases and strategies, particularly how the speaker engages the listener. Focus on words and sentence structures that convey importance.
- Practice Shadow Speech: Using the shadowspeak technique, listen to segments of the video and repeat them out loud, mimicking the cadence and tone of the speaker. This can significantly improve your English pronunciation.
- Engage Actively: During your practice, use the identified phrases in scenarios with friends or language partners. Try to make the other person feel important in your conversations to reinforce this communication style.
- Reflect and Adjust: After each conversation or practice session, reflect on your usage of the phrases and techniques. Adjust your approach based on what felt effective and natural.
By implementing these strategies and focusing on improving your English pronunciation through the shadowing technique, you'll establish yourself as a compelling speaker. This way, conversations will feel less transactional and more engaging, making you increasingly confident and heard in any situation.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Conditional sentences if + clause, will/would + verb — a condition and its result | if you practice this, people listening will register |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | be given · are often rated · been documented |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have learned · I've been · they've lost |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | someone who is · someone who has · those who deliver |
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.