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The Voice of Leadership: Science Behind Charismatic Speaking

clock12 min

Discover how leadership speaking is a learnable skill, not innate talent. Drawing from Nancy Duarte's speech analysis, John Antonakis's research on Charismatic Leadership Tactics, and FBI negotiator Chris Voss's techniques, this episode reveals the two-part framework that transforms ordinary communication into leadership presence.

The Voice of Leadership: Science Behind Charismatic Speaking
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How This Personalized Podcast Was Made

This podcast was created using BeFreed’s AI, based on selected books, the creator’s learning goals, and their preferred tone.

"Silent Messages" — Clarification of the 7–38–55 formula
link
https://www.kaaj.com/psych/smorder.html
While a candidate's voice pitch sways voters, it doesn't result in better leaders
link
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180314092354.htm
The secret structure of great talks
link
https://www.ted.com/speakers/nancy_duarte
Putting Feelings Into Words (Affect Labeling) Produces Therapeutic Effects in the Brain
link
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01916.x
2017 Letter to Shareholders (Six-Page Narratives)
link
https://www.aboutamazon.com/2017-letter-to-shareholders/
Think Fast, Talk Smart
link
https://podcasts.apple.com/mz/podcast/think-fast-talk-smart-communication-techniques/id1494989268
Huberman Lab: Chris Voss — How to Succeed at Hard Conversations
link
https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/chris-voss-how-to-succeed-at-hard-conversations
Candidate Voice Pitch Influences Election Outcomes
link
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/pops.12280
The Charisma Myth: How Anyone Can Master the Art and Science of Personal Magnetism
link
https://www.goodreads.com/ur/book/show/11910905-the-charisma-myth
Combating COVID-19 with charisma: Evidence on governor speeches in the United States
link
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10201331/
Voice pitch and the labor market success of male chief executive officers
link
https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2013EHumB..34..243M/abstract
HBR On Leadership
link
https://podcasts.apple.com/bb/podcast/hbr-on-leadership/id1683948659
In the eye of the beholder: Eye contact increases resistance to persuasion
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24068114/
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29233865-never-split-the-difference
When our hands help us understand: A meta-analysis into the effects of gesture on comprehension
link
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31219263/
Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16954801-resonate
How Great Leaders Inspire Action
link
https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action
Speed of Speech and Persuasion: Evidence for Multiple Effects
link
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/01461672952110006
Think Faster, Talk Smarter
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/200391637-think-faster-talk-smarter
Modern Wisdom #948 — Matt Abrahams — The Secret To Becoming A Confident Speaker
link
https://podfollow.com/1347973549/episode/5dae73f0fcda23883cb506c332212b1b924c0d08/view
Sounds like a winner: voice pitch influences perception of leadership capacity in both men and women
link
https://read.qxmd.com/read/22418254/sounds-like-a-winner-voice-pitch-influences-perception-of-leadership-capacity-in-both-men-and-women
10 ways to have a better conversation
link
https://ed.ted.com/lessons/10-ways-to-have-a-better-conversation-celeste-headlee
How to speak so that people want to listen
link
https://ed.ted.com/lessons/0A3PRwvK
Can Charisma Be Taught? Tests of Two Interventions
link
https://journals.aom.org/doi/abs/10.5465/amle.2010.0012
Speaker–listener neural coupling underlies successful communication
link
https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1008662107
Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Take Hold and Others Come Unstuck
link
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/69243.Made_to_Stick
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Input question

How can I learn to speak more charismatically as a leader?

Podcast Style
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"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
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254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
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"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"

@Jaded_Falcon
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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37
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483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

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"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."

@Chloe, Solo founder, LA
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likes
117

"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."

@Raaaaaachelw
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"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."

@Matt, YC alum
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comments
12
likes
108

"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."

@Erin, Investment Banking Associate , NYC
platform
comments
254
likes
17

"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."

@djmikemoore
platform
star
star
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star

"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."

@Pitiful
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."

@SofiaP
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@Jaded_Falcon
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."

@OojasSalunke
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"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."

@Leo, Law Student, UPenn
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37
likes
483

"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"

@Cashflowbubu
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