If you’re wondering how to speak like an executive, focus on three things: how you speak (volume, pace and tone), what you say, and what content you choose to include. Mind you, the best version of this isn’t a borrowed voice. It’s your own voice, steadier and more deliberate. Below you’ll find advice from a former COO, an executive coach and an actress, plus five exercises to practice.
30 years ago, as a member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, I was told I’d be giving an impromptu speech: 60 seconds on a topic I’d learn seconds before delivering.
Not a fan of public speaking? You may feel something just reading that (sweaty palms, twisted insides). I do too, a little.
Years later, I looked up the guide we used (for fun) and found it still had great tips on HOW to speak, like this one:
“Diaphragmatic breathing is probably the most important thing you can learn about using your voice. It will give you control and produce a buoyant, well supported sound. The diaphragm is the chief source of vocal motive power.”
Take a deep, even breath. Blow air out in a smooth, even stream.
If you’ve ever given a bad talk (or sat through one), you’ve probably heard someone struggling to use their breath well. But breath isn’t the only factor that matters. If you want to learn how to speak like an executive, read on.
May Busch, former COO of Morgan Stanley Europe, puts it in three parts: “To sound like the senior executive you aspire to be, these are three areas you need to focus on: how you speak, what you say, and your content choice.” On how you speak, she adds: “In particular, pay attention to the volume, pace and tone of voice when you speak.”
Executive coach (and friend of Enable Leaders) Ellie Jeffers Hall adds the language side: “To sound like an executive, master the language of business: it’s all about risk mitigation. Speak to strategies that minimize uncertainty and drive sustainable growth.”
Want the bigger picture beyond speech? See our guide to executive presence, and executive presence habits for the daily behaviors behind it.
It can. Michael Girdley shared a post on X about psychology tricks for building relationships, including this one: speak from the chest. Humans often associate deep, clear voices (of any sex) with leadership ability, and speaking from your “chest voice,” deep in your lungs, can make your voice more forceful, clear and deep.
Your voice is also an instrument, and you only get one. I’m married to a speech pathologist, Tatiana Dunnett, who offers practical advice, including how to support your voice in this article.
Not sure how to speak like an executive in practice? Try these five, none of which need a coach or a stage:
Partly. Actress and producer Meghan Ory (you may know her from Once Upon a Time, Intelligence or Chesapeake Shores) offered this when I asked how she’d approach sounding like an executive:
“I would say study successful CEO’s and listen to interviews with them. Usually their voices are lower and steady.”
Study them, yes, but Elizabeth Holmes is a reminder that a manufactured voice can backfire. My take on how to speak like an executive? Make sure your voice truly sounds like you. Anything else may take away from your credibility, and that can erode trust.
Sounding like an executive helps. It doesn’t replace credibility, though. If you’re trying to move people who don’t report to you, influence without authority covers what tends to work when you can’t rely on rank.
Start with breath, pace and structure: breathe before you speak, slow down, and lead with your conclusion.
Not really. Both come down to a steady voice, clear structure and business-relevant language.
Often their voices are described as lower and steadier, but you shouldn’t force a voice that isn’t yours. If you want to work on your voice, engage with a speech pathologist like Tatiana Dunnett (or someone licensed in your area) to help you. If you want to work on your delivery, an executive coach can definitely help.
Yes. A coach can give you real-time feedback on delivery, content and presence, which is hard to get on your own.
