Gravitas

Transform your communication style to command respect and trust in every professional interaction, without raising your voice.

Overview

TL;DR

Gravitas combines knowledge, purpose, and passion to create meaningful influence. By mastering seven core principles—from self-awareness to emotional connection—anyone can develop the ability to speak with authority that makes others genuinely listen and respond.

1. Know Yourself

2. Teach People How to Treat You

3. Find Your Voice

4. Speak So Others Listen

5. Win Hearts and Minds

6. Keep an Open Mind and Level Head

7. Get Results
   

Gravitas isn't an innate trait but a skill you can develop through specific practices. The book provides a practical formula—Knowledge + Purpose + Passion - Anxiety = Gravitas—that helps professionals speak with authentic authority in any situation.

Impact & Outcome

• Enhanced influence in presentations, meetings, and difficult conversations

• Improved ability to communicate with authority while maintaining authenticity

Who is it for

• Business professionals: looking to increase their impact in meetings and presentations

• Leaders: looking to balance authority with warmth to inspire genuine trust

The Author Caroline Goyder is a leading voice coach who has dedicated her career to helping actors, broadcasters, and business leaders find their authentic speaking voice. With decades of experience and as the author of best-selling books including Find Your Voice and The Star Qualities, Goyder brings practical wisdom to the challenge of speaking with genuine authority.

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Key Ideas

1. Perfect the three inner pillars of personal authority

Knowing yourself deeply creates the foundation for speaking with true authority.

Building genuine gravitas starts with developing a strong internal foundation through three key principles that prepare you to communicate effectively in any situation.

The first pillar involves truly knowing yourself—understanding your thoughts, feelings, and physical presence. Like actors preparing for important roles, you need to connect with your inner landscape. Try the "FOFBOC" technique (Feet on Floor, Bum on Chair) to ground yourself physically. Simply sit, feel where your body connects with the chair and floor, and focus on these contact points. This creates physical stability that naturally translates into emotional steadiness that others can sense when you speak.