People assess your credibility not only on the content of what you say but also on how you say it.  Your message is affected by your body language, your voice, and your mannerisms.

Many women have unconscious habits in the way they speak that undermine their authority and their message. Yet we often overestimate how hard it would be to get rid of these habits.

Here are some tips on what you can do to make sure you are heard.

1. Eliminate filler words.

Words like “like” “uh” “you know” and “actually” can undermine your message.  Get feedback on what filler words you use, and work to eliminate them.

2. Speak at optimal volume.

When your voice fills up space, it implies expertise and authority.

3. Prevent interruptions.

There is a reason why someone feels they can interrupt you. It could be that it seems that you're not really committed to what you have to say – because you preface your remarks with phrases like “I could be wrong” or  “I haven’t thought this through completely.”  Or they feel like there's no consequence if they interrupt you since you let it ride in the past.

4. Become aware of your body language.

What you say counts for a mere 7% of what you communicate.  Body language and voice account for the other 93%. Work on keeping your head level, making eye contact and not making yourself small with slumped shoulders or closed off body language.

5. Get rid of uptalk.

Women have a tendency to use uptalk, the upward inflection at the end of a sentence, which changes a statement into a question. Stop doing it!

Eliminating these habits is easier than you may think.  Practice these tips for 1 minute a day for the next 60 days and you’ll see a marked improvement in your ability to be heard.

For more tips on being heard and communicating effectively, listen to Advice to My Younger Me episodes 34 - Speaking with Impact with Hillary Wicht and 41 - Projecting Confidence and Competence with Cara Hale Alter.