How to Speak Like the Elite 1%?
The way we speak has a profound impact on how we are perceived. Influential people—those in the 1%—have mastered the art of communication, speaking with a unique precision and clarity that sets them apart. This is not by accident; they cultivate what can be called a “verbal brand.” In this post, we’ll explore how you can develop a verbal brand, refine your speech, and communicate like the elite. Let’s dive into the process.
1. Develop Your Verbal Brand
A verbal brand is the set of boundaries that defines the words and phrases you use—and those you don’t. Elite communicators use familiar ideas but convey them in their own distinctive way. For example, instead of saying “getting popular,” they might say “on the ascendancy,” or instead of “a certain way of thinking,” they might use “schools of thought.” This conscious use of language is what gives them a unique voice.
Most people don’t pay much attention to their verbal brand and end up sounding like everyone else. The repetition of filler words, clichés, and stale expressions weakens our speech. Worse, some might overuse complex or archaic words that sound forced. Instead of impressing, such vocabulary can make you sound out of place or awkward.
To create a strong verbal brand:
- Audit your vocabulary. What words do you use regularly? Are they aligned with how you want to be perceived?
- Decide your communication goals. Are you looking to elevate your status, expand your influence, or gain trust? Your word choices should align with these goals.
- Customize your expressions. Find creative, clear ways to say things you commonly express. For example, replace mundane phrases with more refined or personalized ones.
2. Eliminate Verbal Discords
Verbal discords are words that simply don’t fit the tone or style you’re striving for. They create a jarring effect, like a bad chord in an otherwise beautiful melody. Imagine a well-spoken leader using juvenile or overly complicated language—it disrupts the flow.
For instance, if you’re describing a collection of ideas, you might use the word “bucket” without thinking twice. But if it doesn’t fit the polished tone you want to project, consider replacing it with a more appropriate word like “assemble” or “group.” This conscious replacement of discordant words with more harmonious ones elevates your speech.
Elite communicators aren’t necessarily verbose or full of fancy words—they just know how to avoid discordant language and pick phrases that flow smoothly and naturally. The goal is to sound authentic, yet refined.
3. Identify and Solve Lexical Gaps
A lexical gap occurs when you struggle to find the right word, leading to long-winded or unclear communication. Have you ever tried explaining a simple concept but ended up talking in circles? That’s a lexical gap in action.
Solving lexical gaps requires two things:
- Clarity of thought. If the idea you’re trying to communicate isn’t clear in your mind, you’ll struggle to articulate it. If you’re not familiar with a topic, such as “neuroplasticity in gorilla brains,” you’ll quickly hit a lexical gap.
- Precision in language. Avoid vague words like “kind of,” “sort of,” and “you know.” Instead, take time to learn more specific vocabulary that concisely captures your thoughts.
Elite speakers, such as investors or public figures, seem articulate because they’ve filled these gaps with clear, concise language. They’ve thought through their ideas beforehand and refined their vocabulary to reflect that clarity. For instance, take Naval Ravikant’s advice: “The only true test of intelligence is if you get what you want out of life.” He doesn’t beat around the bush—he speaks with precision because his thoughts are clear.
4. Logging and Refining Your Lexicon
One way to address lexical gaps is by documenting them. Start paying attention to instances where you feel your speech is muddled or long-winded. Write down phrases or concepts that you find challenging to express and seek out better alternatives.
You can:
- Use note-taking apps to log these gaps and potential solutions.
- Utilize resources like ChatGPT to refine your language and find clearer ways to communicate ideas.
The goal is to gradually improve how you convey your thoughts by making a conscious effort to solve these gaps. Over time, this will make your speech more polished and direct.
5. Practice with Lexical Simulations
Once you’ve identified the words or phrases you want to incorporate into your verbal brand, you need to practice using them. It’s not enough to know a new phrase intellectually—you must integrate it into your speech naturally.
Here’s how to do this:
- Simulate conversations. Practice scenarios where you can use your new vocabulary. Let’s say you’ve added “schools of thought” to your verbal brand. Imagine a conversation where you use this phrase in context: “I believe there are two schools of thought on this matter.”
- Repeat aloud. Studies show that you are five times more likely to remember a word or phrase when you say it aloud compared to just reading or hearing it.
By rehearsing this way, you’ll reinforce your new vocabulary, making it second nature in real conversations.
6. Learn from Great Speakers
The 1% often speak as though their words have been crafted in advance. That’s because many great speakers were once writers, honing their language skills on paper before taking them to the stage. Writing forces you to solve lexical gaps and refine your ideas in ways that spontaneous speech doesn’t.
Take Neil deGrasse Tyson, for example. He’s renowned for his precise communication style. When asked how he speaks with such clarity, he revealed that most of the sentences he says in public have been thought out and written down beforehand.
One way to accelerate your learning is by listening to or reading the speeches of influential figures. Speeches are like “green smoothies” for your language—they are packed with powerful word combinations that you can emulate. Practice reading these speeches aloud to internalize their linguistic style.
7. Cultivate a Habit of Articulate Speaking
While we can analyze and prepare all we want, elite speakers don’t overthink every word in real-time conversations. They’ve cultivated a subconscious habit of clarity through deliberate practice. Like listening to a playlist, their verbal transitions are smooth because they’ve heard those words and combinations many times before.
The goal is to train your subconscious mind to retrieve refined language effortlessly. The more you practice using articulate words in context, the more natural it will feel. Eventually, you’ll reach a point where clarity flows without conscious effort.
Conclusion: The Path to Speaking Like the Elite
Speaking like the 1% isn’t about using big words or mimicking someone else’s style. It’s about building a unique verbal brand, removing verbal discords, filling lexical gaps, and practicing until articulate speech becomes second nature. By refining your language, you’ll improve not only how you’re perceived but also the clarity of your own thinking. Remember, mastery comes from deliberate practice, and with consistent effort, you too can speak like the elite.
