How to speak with authority

"If you tend to soften your tone or worry about sounding pushy, being more direct can feel uncomfortable. I coach leaders through this all the time, and here's what they learn quickly: Directive leadership isn't about being harsh. It's about being clear. And clarity is what builds trust, drives ownership, and gets results without raising your voice. Your words signal your authority or they undermine it."

"Her communication was consistently too soft. Her requests sounded tentative, her decisions felt optional, and her team often left meetings unclear on priorities. She told me, "I know what I want to say, but in the moment, I don't want to sound demanding." In one meeting, a project was slipping. She needed to make a call. Instead, she said, "Maybe we could try moving the deadline? I'm not sure, what do you think?" The team debated for 15 minutes with no direction."

Meetings often stall when no one states decisive direction, and softened language leaves teams unclear and unaligned. Tentative phrases like "Maybe we should consider..." or "Sorry to interrupt" undermine authority and invite prolonged debate. Directive leadership emphasizes clarity over force and uses language that matches existing responsibility. Coaching can shift phrasing to be succinct and authoritative without increasing volume or aggression. In practice, aligning language with authority resolves ambiguity, refocuses team energy, and accelerates outcomes. Clear, confident statements set priorities, elicit alignment, and produce ownership and results.

Read at Fast Company