In this engaging discussion, Jeffrey Pfeffer, a professor at Stanford's Graduate School of Business, dives into the intricate dynamics of authority in communication. He shares how simple, vivid language can significantly strengthen our message. Pfeffer emphasizes the importance of body language and vocal techniques in asserting confidence and presence. He also touches on the value of pre-communication warm-ups to ease anxiety and enhance performance. Listeners will gain actionable insights to elevate their speaking skills and influence.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Nonverbal Power Cues
Project power nonverbally by standing tall, making eye contact, and using expansive gestures.
Avoid tilting your head, looking down, or hunching over, as these diminish your presence.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Verbal Power Cues
Use simple, forceful, and vivid language to convey authority.
Speak directly and avoid filler words like "kind of" or "sort of".
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Fluency and Power
Minimize filler words and hesitations like "um" or "ah".
Practice speaking fluently and confidently, as if rehearsed.
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Jeffrey Pfeffer's "Dying for a Paycheck" explores the detrimental effects of workplace stress on employee health and well-being. The book argues that excessive work hours, lack of control, and economic insecurity contribute significantly to health problems and premature death. Pfeffer presents compelling evidence linking workplace stressors to various health issues, including cardiovascular disease and mental health problems. He advocates for systemic changes in workplace culture and policies to prioritize employee well-being. The book challenges the traditional view of work-life balance and calls for a more humane and sustainable approach to work.
Power
Why Some People Have It—and Others Don’t
Jeffrey Pfeffer
In this book, Jeffrey Pfeffer provides insightful and often counterintuitive advice on how power is successfully built and maintained in organizations. Drawing from his extensive experience in consulting and teaching, Pfeffer argues that power is not just for a select few but can be harnessed by anyone. The book dispels the myth that power is only for those in charge and instead reveals the true paths to career success, emphasizing the importance of personal networks, reputation, and effective social interactions. Pfeffer uses numerous examples from various countries and industries to illustrate his points, making the book an essential organizational survival manual and a new standard in the field of leadership and management.
“Simple language, forceful language, vivid language, and keeping it simple and direct,” says Professor Jeffrey Pfeffer, are all tools to increase the strength of your communication. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, host and lecturer Matt Abrahams interviews Jeffrey Pfeffer, author of Dying for a Paycheck, about the verbal and nonverbal ways we can harness, or give away, our authority in communication.
To hear more from Jeffrey, listen to Pfeffer on Power, a podcast about accelerating your career.
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Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques 
