How Word Choices Impact Your Message with Terre Short.

Welcome to Public Speaking with Peter George. Do you want to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then stay tuned as we discuss public speaking tips, techniques, and tactics that help you increase your impact, influence, and income.

Terre Short coaches, speaks, and facilitates for physicians, senior leaders, and middle managers across the country, helping them harness the power of empathy and personal relationships. She is the author of The Words We Choose: Your Guide to How and Why Words Matter, a 2020 American Book Fest finalist, and has been featured in Fast Company and on NPR. Here's my conversation with Terre Short.

The Words You Choose Before You Speak

Peter: The words people in marketing and sales use clearly matter. What are your thoughts on how word choice impacts public speakers?

Terre: It starts before you even open your mouth — in what I call your personal podcast. That internal narrative playing 24/7 in your head. You get to choose what's on it. Are you inviting your inner critic? Your most supportive mentor? That internal word choice sets the foundation. Then, when you're presenting, the words you choose must align with your intention. Are you being directive and assertive? Inviting and encouraging? The gap between those two is often a single word.

Words That Minimize: "But" and "However"

Terre: The word I'd eliminate first is "but." Think of it as scissors — it severs whatever came before it. Even as a speaker, when you say "I'd like to share something important, but..." you've already diminished what you were about to say. The replacement is "and." "And" is the glue. It's affirmative and collaborative. Think about improv: it's always "yes, and" — never "yes, but." The same principle applies when an audience member throws you a curveball. Say "yes, and" and you pull them into the conversation. "However" is just "but" in a tuxedo — a fancy but. Same problem.

Filler Words That Undermine Your Credibility

Terre: "Pretty" is one that sneaks in easily. "I'm pretty sure" or "I'm pretty confident" — well, are you confident or aren't you? Then there's "just." Speakers say "I'd just like to share some data" and they've made that data sound less important before they've even shared it. "Just" is habitual for many people and it quietly erodes your authority. You hear it constantly in emails too: "I'm just checking in," "I'm just following up." And what breaks my heart is hearing someone say, "I'm just the executive assistant" — when the reality is they make everything work. Don't minimize yourself or your message.

"Think" Undermines Leaders

Terre: Leaders especially fall into the habit of saying "I think we're likely to meet our goals" or "I think we can do this." You're getting paid to own the message. Say what you believe with confidence. Speakers are on stage to assert their expertise — not to qualify it with "I think." In a boardroom, "I think" signals uncertainty. Own your message and lead with what you know.

"Have To" vs. "Get To"

Terre: This one changes everything. "I have to" implies burden. "I get to" implies privilege. When you say "I get to speak in front of a thousand people," you're reminding yourself — and your audience — that this is an honor very few people experience. The same works in organizational settings. Leaders who say "we have to implement this policy" imply someone else is pulling the strings. Leaders who say "we get to do this because it saves patient lives" own the decision and serve their people at the same time.

Words That Elevate: Invite, Serve, Encourage

Terre: Two words I weave in intentionally when I'm on stage are "serve" and "invite." Instead of challenging an audience, consider inviting them. "I invite you to consider this" broadens your reach, promotes inclusion, and creates the kind of psychologically safe space where people actually engage. Other words that elevate a speaker: "encourage," "recommend," "I wish to," "I intend to," "I desire to." These carry more weight and more intention than a flat "I'm going to."

"If" vs. "When"

Terre: Speakers and leaders who say "if we meet our goals" or "if we travel again" are projecting doubt. Swap "if" for "when" and you give your audience the foundation of certainty they're looking for from you. A football coach never says "if we win." The word "when" communicates optimism, belief, and direction. It's not appropriate every single time, but most of us are offering far more ambiguity than is helpful.

Start With Your Values

Terre: All of this connects back to something deeper: your core values. Most people think they're living their values every day — but when asked to name them, they struggle. When you take the time to clarify your values, your word choices follow naturally. The words that come out of your mouth become more aligned with what's in your heart. That alignment is what makes a speaker not just clear, but trustworthy.

Peter: Terre, where can our listeners learn more about you and your book?

Terre: Visit shortgroup.net. The book is there, the first chapter is available for free download, and there's a link to my online course as well. The Words We Choose is also available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and wherever you buy books.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Public Speaking with Peter George. Are you ready to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then visit petergeorgepublicspeaking.com and let's make it happen. I'll see you next time.