How not to sound weird when talking to authority?
151 Answers
Last Updated: 04/29/2022 at 3:27pm



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Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
June 17th, 2016 9:13pm
Just be yourself and talk to the authority as if he/she is just another person. He/she has a label of an authority doesn't mean he/she is better than you. He/she still eats, goes to the bathroom, and goes to sleep just like each of one us. That's how I feel comfortable talking to anyone I meet.
You can be respectful. You can address them as sir, ma'am, Mr. ____, or Mrs.____. You don't have to be uptight, authority figures are people too. It's okay to make light-hearted jokes, just maintain respectfulness.
It's important to remain calm and collected. Know what you want to achieve and think logically, planning what you want to say beforehand. If it isn't as formal as this and it is just a catch up, just try to remember they are just there to help. They may well be older or in a high position, but your care is important to them and being open and honest will help you both.
With the authority, conversation should be held executively. Be straight and clear in what you are trying to say. Do not jumble up with your words. Keep them short yet impressive. And smile often.
Anonymous
October 8th, 2016 9:30am
Practice talking to authority in a mirror. Be calm. Stand straight. Be honest and stand your ground, but know the limitations of that relationship too. Sounding weird when talking to authority might be reasonable cause for said authority to suspect something, so take care!
Adapt a professional tone and behaviour. Fake it till you make it and you wont feel awkward. Learn to become comfortable in your own skin and with who you are as a unique individual.
be respectful, confident and keep your thoughts simple and direct. Make eye contact and smile and only say what you know to be true, don't make things up
Anonymous
June 23rd, 2016 5:57am
If you sound weird when you talk to people who you see as higher ranking, it would probably be because of being nervous or wanting to impress them or something :P I think talking to them often would help with the nerves, and maybe establishing boundaries and 'manners' in your head will help you talk to them in a more natural way while still respecting them. As for wanting to impress them, that's pretty good as it can motivate you to do great things, go for it :)
Most authority just don't like to be talked down to. Just be sure to include their surname and be respectful and understand their stress and their duties and respect those.
Anonymous
June 29th, 2016 2:57am
Someone who seems confident and knows what they are doing is an easy person to respect. Someone in authority is a leader, and leaders have followers. So maybe you don't sound weird and you just need a boost of confidence.
Be polite and respectful when speaking to authority. This way they understand you more clearly. Try to be too emotional.
What do you mean by sound weird? If by weird, you mean nervous, it can just be a matter of taking small quiet breaths before talking. If it is what you say, it be a matter of thinking before you speak.
remember that they are exactly like you cause they are human too. their title does not make them more important than you in the grand scheme of things.
I understand how it could get weird when talking to authority. It can be exhausting just thinking about what to say and how to say it. When you're approaching someone with authority, a few characteristics come to mind like confidence, leadership and charisma. With that, focus on keeping your tone strong and motivated, your posture high and in line with that other person, and your words straight to the point. Maintain eye contact and smile from time to time, as you imagine yourself having just as much confidence, leadership and charisma as the person in front of you. It helps to rehearse similar situations through self-visualizations. If there is a particular situation that concerns you, let's set up a time to chat. Happy to see you're on 7 Cups for support!
Hahaha, hmmm. As long as there is authority, I guess we all will sound weird when talking to them. As long as you understand that they are still human and in no way better than you apart from being given more responsibility, communication should be comfortable.
I do not understand what do you mean by "Talking weird" please rewrite and send again thank you for using 7 cups
Anonymous
July 10th, 2016 6:48am
When talking to authority just talk to them like you would to any other human being but with most respect
There is no specific way to speak to authority, a lot where one struggles with talking with authority is that we see them as an authority figure and overthink what we say and do and forget to simply be ourselves. Confidence is key.
It will always sound weird to you 'cause anybody is confident in these situations. It's normal, don't worry.
Talk to them like you're talking to an old friend that you respect alot. Try not to overthink it, people in authority are people and have feelings too.
Anonymous
July 19th, 2016 2:20pm
Just make sure to act naturally as if you were simply talking to a regular person, like your friend.
Well just sound confident not like "yo what's up bro" but like yours talking to you family respectfully calm or they will think your hiding something don't Awsner with quick words like ya no K ya no and sound nervous and be FULLY honest even if you think it will sound suspicious
Anonymous
July 25th, 2016 8:28am
Think that they are a normal person just like you. Talk to them with respect but think as them as someone you know like one of your friends
Consider why you are feeling weird and what your definition of "weird" is. Do you feel inferior, scared, anxious, self-conscious? If so, it may be a version of an anxiety issue, known as social anxiety. If social anxiety is interfering with your life, consider seeking professional help.
When talking to authority, stay calm, have confidence in what you're saying and don't seem suspicious.
You talk as if you're talking to a friend but just be careful not to let your guard down as you would around a friend. Also adding in "sir" or "ma'am" can help your case.
The single rule to this is relax. Relax from your facial parts but make an active face, relax your shoulders to your arms to your hands and throat and the rest of your body. Imagine taking a pill, if your throat is all tensed up it won't go down but if it is you can swallow the pill.
Look them in the eye unless they say otherwise, and just be yourself. Be kind and respectful. :) They are people too.
Anonymous
August 7th, 2016 5:17pm
Just because someone has authority it doesn't mean they are humans too, and they do worry about their looks, and run to bathroom when they need it, be cool, you're nothing less than them.
Anonymous
August 12th, 2016 12:09pm
When speaking to authority, you should refer to them as Sir/ ma'am . This is a respectful way to talk to authority. Speak confidently and ask as many questions as u would like. They are there to help you, after all. Avoid repeating what you say unless asked to.
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