Book Review: Gravitas: Communicate With Confidence, Influence and Authority Caroline Goyder,
My mentor recommended me this book through our CU Head. I love the 7 principles the book introduced in part 1 with tool kits and second part to have more practical examples. So what is Gravitas: Gravitas n. figuratively of persons, ‘ dignity, presence, influences’. Gravitas is about roots and wings. Roots, because gravitas gives you a solid foundation to express yourself with confidence and authority. It’s a trait and allows you to rise to great heights professionally while keeping your feet firmly on the ground. The formula introduced in the book is: Knowledge+purpose+passion (-anxiety)=Gravitas The trinity of Knowledge (Logos), purpose (Ethos) and passion (Pathos) is key. They are the pillars on which gravitas rests. Knowledge is in the your zone of expertise. Your purpose is about your values which gives you momentum and gravitas shines most when you serve a greater good. Your passion is the spark that sets your ideas and knowledge alight. It fuels you and it inspires and engages others. Practice is the key to overcome anxiety. The 7 principles essential part of well-rounded gravitas: Principle 1: Know Yourself- Your Inner Compass,. Roman orator Cicero’s quote “If you wish to persuade me, you must think my thoughts, feel my feelings and speak my words.” Let's deconstruct this. Cicero is taking a position as the customer, speaking to the seller (or marketeer). If you wish… in other words, if you really want to do this. One of the tools keeps coming up is FOFBOC= Feet On Floor and Body On Chair Principle 2: Teach People How to treat You- Your status (King/Queen/warrior) and connections (Carer/Creator) are in balance- great foundation for gravitas. Preview Your Style Principle 3: Find Your Voice. – Try the news reporter structure: Headlines/ Point 1,,2,3,/ Wrap. Short is good. How to be a Natural Speaker, by Peter Everett, BBC 4
Distil- write down bullet points of ideas-> condense them-> List of around six words give you 30 mins of a presentations.
Find the links
Learn by Heart
Principle 4: Speak So Others Listen- Gravitas Boosters: Tone, Pause and Pace, Speak Clearly, Be conversational Principle 5: Win Hearts and Minds- Find the why, tell stories, step into the emotion Principle 6: Keep an Open Mind and a Level Head- The Golden Rule by Marcus Aurelius: Everything we hear is an option not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.-> Lighten up and don't take things personally. Recognise the gremlins- the blamer (fault-finders, think they are right, want others to obey them), placatory (fears being rejected, disliked and disagreed with), computer ( uber-correct, super-reasonable, lives in the world of the mind, approach everything with ice-old logic, often fail to understand the feelings others ) and distractor ( unfocused and dont's keep to the point, bouncy and uncontrolled, ted to talk quickly, change subjects, rarely stopping for breaths) show up in life. Be a Leveller Not a Gremlin. Levellers distinguish between that they are feeling and the thoughts they express with words. They take into account their and others feelings, thoughts, realities and words. Principle 7: Get Results Intention +Attention =Results Set You Intention ->chronos, set a clear outcome Focus Your Attention -> Kairos, be presence and focused When you come UnderFire, Breathe I would also highly recommend to watch the YouTube on Executive Presence by James Scouller