Speak More Articulately Than 99% of People

Joseph Tsar - Speak More Articulately Than 99% of People

Have you ever wondered what makes certain speakers so captivating? It’s not just a natural gift—it’s the result of intentional habits, carefully chosen words, and strategic speech techniques.

In this post, inspired by Joseph Tsar’s video “Speak More Articulately Than 99% of People,” we’ll explore how to transform your everyday speech into something memorable and powerful. You'll learn how to cut out bloated language, upgrade filler words, and build a personal "Commonplace Book" filled with words and phrases that will make you sound more polished and confident.

Here are the golden nuggets I found from watching the video:

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Ditch Workhorse words and unlock the power of precision with this simple 4-step process (0:00)

• Identify & Replace Workhorse Words: Swap vague, overused words like good with precise alternatives to enrich your speech.

• Build Awareness & Practice: Sensitize yourself to common defaults and replace them in real-time with more impactful expressions.

Commonplace Book

• Adopt the Commonplace Book: Collect phrases, analogies, and quotes for easy recall in conversations.

• Review Regularly: Build your vocabulary bank and review it weekly for consistent improvement.

Transform Dull Speech into Vivid, Engaging Conversations

• Avoid Default Speech Patterns: Most sentences are filled with filler words, and vague expressions. Break free from this habit.

• Use Fresh Word Combinations: Add color to your language with precise, creative phrases sourced from your commonplace book.

Eliminate Bloated Language and Avoid Redundancy Spirals

• Trim Fillers: Words like um, uh, like, and so disrupt your flow and weaken your message.

• Avoid Redundancy Spirals: Repeating or doubling up on words inflates your sentences and dilutes meaning.

Intensifiers - Drop the Cushion Words

• Identify and Remove Intensifiers: Words like really, actually, literally, and kind of dilute your message.

• Master the Art of Pausing: Keep your mouth closed until your starting words are clear to avoid filler-heavy openings.

• Try Mindful Speech Techniques: Use physical cues like a finger pinch or toe scrunch to stay aware and audit your speech in real time.

To watch the full episode, click here.

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Resources mentioned from the video:

Workhorse Words Resources (click here)

Well-Spoken Thesaurus (click here)

ChatGPT Prompts (click here)

Commonplace Book Template (make a copy to edit)

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Golden Nugget:

Speak with precision and power by eliminating bloated language, upgrading common words, and building a personal bank of articulate expressions. Mastering these habits will transform you into a top 1% communicator.

Discussion Questions:

1. Can you think of any "workhorse words" you tend to overuse?

2. If you were to create your own "commonplace book," what would you include? What types of phrases or expressions would you include?

3. Which speaking habit—fillers, redundancy spirals, or intensifiers—do you think affects your speech the most? How can you train yourself to reduce it?

Memorable Quotes:

"Most intelligent phrases and expressions aren’t generated on the fly—they are preassembled in advance and activated in speech." (3:47)

“A commonplace book is an aggregate of every clever phrase or concise word combination you encounter and wish to absorb into your own speaking.” (4:11)

"What makes the words of great articulators so penetrating is the amount of effort they’ve put into unlearning poor speech habits." (8:20)

“Imagine an idea that might take you two sentences to communicate that you've collapsed into a three-word phrase and now added to your commonplace book.” (6:04)