5 Ways Leaders Can Communicate Power
by Chris Lipp
Illustration by Niyi Adeogun
Summary.
An often overlooked aspect of successful leadership communication is speakers’ ability to convey power through their diction, phrasing, topics, and patterns. Research points to five techniques anyone can use to enhance their standing with followers. First, focus on action; yes, leaders deliberate but when explaining their decisions they should focus on execution. Second, replace concrete details with more abstract descriptions to show that you are looking at the big picture. Third, take responsibility for mistakes; owning problems is a sign of your ability to fix them and lead everyone to a brighter future. Fourth, assess others; powerful people are curious evaluators who don’t need to prove themselves. Finally, direct the spotlight; you communicate strength not by talking the most but by steering the conversation.
We all know that great leaders tend to be great communicators. Think Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs. But what, exactly, do followers find so compelling about the way these people speak?
As someone who has taught management communication as well as helped startup teams pitch and raise hundreds of millions of dollars, I’ve found that one important but often overlooked hallmark of effective speakers is their ability to convey power not through presence but with their words.
Mastering the language of power—diction, phrasing, topics, and patterns—can dramatically enhance our success in managerial roles, secure resources for our projects and initiatives, and win the admiration of followers.
In this article, I highlight five techniques you can use to level up your speaking by communicating your power.
Focus on Action
Powerful leaders must deliberate on important decisions, weighing pros and cons with input from others. But when they communicate, they focus on action.
For example, take the following two statements:
Neutral: There are several options in front of us. If we go with option A, we may secure our reputation with existing customers. On the other hand, if we go with option B, we may have an opportunity to expand our market share.
Powerful: While option A would help secure our reputation with existing customers, Option B is the clear choice to strengthen and expand our position. Now let’s plan execution. First, we must hire staff to fill the necessary roles. Then we will reach out to media.
Research suggests that both statements convey equal competence, but the second statement is seen as more powerful, more managerial, and more likely to gain status.
Think Big
Today’s leaders are buried in metrics. Engagement rates, KPIs, and conversion charts bombard us. These facts inform, but they don’t illuminate.
Research shows that leaders are perceived as more powerful when they think and speak more abstractly, stepping back from the data to present the bigger picture. For example, one study found that startup founders who describe their ventures in more concrete terms are less likely to get funded than those who use offer abstract descriptions.
Let’s contrast a common concrete (neutral) message versus an abstract (powerful) one:
Neutral: Customer retention has increased by 2.5% this quarter, meaning 1,250 more customers have stayed with us.
Powerful: More customers are choosing to stay with us. This isn’t just about growth—it’s trust. If we build on this momentum, we can turn satisfied users into lifelong advocates.
Data informs, but abstraction elevates. That’s why we label visionaries as great leaders. When you speak, whether you include data or not, your power arises from presenting a broader perspective.
Take the Hit
It can be tempting to claim credit for wins and deflect failures. But this is a mistake. Consider BP CEO Tony Hayward’s decision to attribute the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to Transocean, the rig’s operator, rather than accept full accountability. Or Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg’s criticism of Lion Air’s maintenance and pilot training in response to the first 737 Max crash, rather than acknowledging aircraft design flaws. Both were ousted from their positions.
Blame and deflection signal weakness because they convey incapability to influence a situation. The fault (and therefore power) is with someone else.
Owning failure signals power. When we take responsibility, we signal our ability to fix the problem and better manage future scenarios.
In July 2024, cybersecurity company CrowdStrike faced a crisis when a faulty software update led to widespread IT disruptions. CEO George Kurtz quickly took responsibility, stating:
I want to sincerely apologize directly to all of you for today’s outage. All of CrowdStrike understands the gravity and impact of the situation. We quickly identified the issue and deployed a fix…
His prompt ownership of the situation and transition to corrective action showcased strong leadership and helped defuse further backlash.
Assess Others
Studies show that powerful people don’t necessarily aim to impress. They aim to assess.
In business, the person with more power evaluates the person with less. Recruiters rate job candidates. Buyers vet sellers. VCs scrutinize startups.
Those who feel they have a strong position in negotiations ask more questions to learn whether the other person will be valuable to them. Conversely, those in the weaker position aim to prove themselves. Proving is the low-power behavior.
But assessment can flow both ways in any discussion. A highly skilled job candidate might probe recruiters to determine if the role will be a good personal fit. Or a seller may be selective about which customers they work with. Companies like Gulfstream and Feadship vet buyers before allowing them to purchase high-end jets and yachts.
To convey power, ask questions of your conversational counterparts or audience. For example, an executive candidate in an interview might, after answering a few questions to demonstrate their value to the organization, turn the tables with a query like:
How does leadership support innovation here? What’s the long-term vision for this role?
A startup with strong prospects may ask a VC:
What’s your track record in helping companies scale? How do you add value beyond capital?
Questions that vet the other party signal confidence and power over your choices, balancing out the power dynamic.
Curiosity is your superpower. The aim is not arrogance or dominance. The aim is to convey respect for your own goals through asking questions.
Direct the Spotlight
Meetings are the public venue during which status dynamics are on display and people jockey for position. How you show up within the team is how the team will see you. You might think the best way to show up is to add your own perspectives and value, but that’s not exactly right.
The most powerful person in the room doesn’t stand in the spotlight; they control it. They are the ringleaders. They set the agenda, moderate discussions, and distill ideas into action.
For example, you might open a strategy meeting with:
Let’s start by reviewing last quarter’s performance to establish context, then move into key challenges and opportunities, so we can end with a clear plan of action.
As the meeting unfolds, you can ask exploratory questions that encourage meaningful contribution from everyone, such as:
If we had to make this decision today, what would each of you recommend?
Let others deliberate and then synthesize their input into a decisive plan. The aim of the ringleader is not to speak the most, but to steer the most. Do this by focusing on the big picture, asking questions, and organizing input into action.
Power shows up when you speak. Research shows that when you use these techniques, you’ll be seen as a stronger, more compelling leader.
Fonte: hbr.org
