Try the “slow talk” technique. Slow down your speech by adding an extra second to your words. Articulate your words, pronouncing each syllable. [1] X Research source
For instance, if a group is discussing global warming and you have recently watched a documentary about it, chime in with what you know. However, if you don’t know about the topic, stay silent and listen instead.
Take action to show that you’re serious. For example, if others don’t see you as financially responsible, then create an excel spreadsheet and start keeping track of your finances. At work, ask your boss if you can help out with their new project and come to them with research or ideas on how to improve it. Try to find ways to do things better, more efficiently, or find problems that no one else has noticed. At home, take on more chores to help your family.
This applies to professional settings. It is typically okay to be a few minutes late to parties and other social events.
Download news apps to your phone and take fifteen minutes daily to read articles every morning. You can even sign up for news alerts.
For instance, if you have a presentation coming up, prepare a powerpoint. Use a simplistic format and include visuals or charts. Check for typos and practice presenting in the mirror.
Iron your clothes the night before so you don’t have to rush in the mornings. Use your clothes to tell people what you want them to think about you.
Be mindful of what you post on social media, too. Avoid posts that glorify drugs, violence or other negative behaviors.
Perhaps you promised a coworker that you would pick them up the following morning for work. Be sure to set a reminder on your phone and wake up early so you can keep the promise.
For example, if you don’t know something, say, “I’m not familiar with that, but I’ll look it up. "
For instance, your boss might suggest paying the new female coworker less than the male staff because of her gender. Let him know that this is not okay and that she deserves equal pay to do equal work.
If your coworkers start bashing your boss, say “Hey, did y’all see last night’s episode of Game of Thrones? It was awesome. ”
While you can use jokes as a self-defense mechanism, doing it too often can make you appear fake.
Try to be as honest as possible. For instance, if you got minimal sleep the night before, say that you didn’t get much sleep instead of saying that you didn’t sleep at all.
