Just like some acid trips are better than others, there are words that are better than other words, too. Therefore, word choice is a hell of a drug.



I wrote a chapter about the importance of using the right words in my book The Perfectionist’s Guide To Public Speaking, and in this post I’m going to build on it.



We’re going to talk about POWER words. Namely, how do you know when you’ve come across a power word? What to do with it when you do? What’s the difference between a power word and the other crap? And where can you find these power words?



But first, a reminder I like to use to determine if I’ve got the right word or not is this: If our brain can complete a pattern, it will.



This means that if we can guess or anticipate the next words out of someone’s mouth, we will. Either out loud or in our heads. Occasionally during a conversation, I’ll find myself consciously trying to complete the thought of what someone else is saying before they say it. I admit, not the best conversational skill, but it illustrates my point.



You can see the problem—in advance. If a speaker is predictable, the audience is no longer hanging on his or her every word. We want the audience to listen to us. If you can avoid being predictable, you’ll keep the audience interested in what you’re saying.



What makes speech predictable? It’s those clichés, common axioms, overused quotations, and just boring words in general.



Power words are the answer. Let's get started...