Best Speaker Series: Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Confidence, Credibility, and Communication

Studying great speakers will make you a stronger communicator, too.

In the Best Speakers Series, we study leaders, public figures, and influential voices to understand what makes them confident, credible, and compelling. The series continues to be loved by readers across corporate America because the lessons are practical. You can watch a great speaker, notice specific communication choices, and apply those lessons in your next meeting, presentation, or conversation.

This week, we are studying Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Interview with PBS News

Photographer: Todd Heisler/The New York Times via Redux

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an American jurist who served as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1993 until her death in 2020. She was the second woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. Throughout her legal career, she became known for her advocacy for gender equality and women’s rights.

She was also a powerful example of executive presence.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg did not rely on volume, speed, or big gestures to command attention. Her leadership communication style was measured, thoughtful, and precise. She showed us that senior leader communication does not have to be loud to be influential. It has to be clear, intentional, and grounded.

By studying Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s communication habits, leaders can learn how to build credibility, strengthen presence, and communicate with more confidence in high-stakes moments.

What we studied: Interview with PBS News

Leadership Communication Strengths

1. Eye contact

Ruth looks directly into the eyes of the interviewer. This increases connection and demonstrates that she is listening. Strong eye contact is one of the simplest ways to build trust in leadership communication. It tells the listener, “I am present. I am focused. I am with you.” (:20)

For senior leaders, this matters. In meetings, interviews, and presentations, people are watching to see if you are fully engaged. Eye contact helps create that connection quickly.

2. Posture

Ruth holds a very still frame. She comes across as confident, comfortable, and composed. She maintains this physical poise throughout the interview. (:20)

This is an important executive presence lesson. Stillness communicates control. Leaders often lose presence by shifting, fidgeting, or over-moving. Ruth’s stillness gives her words more weight.

3. Vocal presence

Ruth uses a calm, steady speaking rate. She demonstrates control of her voice, and the audience is able to follow everything she says. (:32)

In corporate America, senior leader communication often happens in moments of pressure. A steady voice helps the audience feel that the leader is prepared, confident, and in control. Ruth’s vocal presence shows that calm communication can be powerful communication.

4. Use of the pause

Ruth uses pauses strategically. Pausing helps the audience focus on what matters most. In this interview, she highlights the importance of “all of the people” and not just “some of them.” (4:20)

The pause is one of the most underused tools in leadership communication. Many leaders rush through important ideas because they are trying to sound prepared. Ruth shows us the opposite. When you pause, you give your message room to land.

5. Storytelling

Ruth references a quote, a song, and an analogy as she answers the interviewer’s questions. She brings facts and ideas to life by connecting them to examples that are personal and memorable. (1:00, 4:57)

This is a key communication skill for leaders. Facts alone are rarely enough. Stories, examples, and analogies help people understand, remember, and repeat your message.

6. Handling questions

Ruth answers the question asked. She shows that she is paying attention to the listener and begins with what matters most in her response. She comes across as definitive and unwavering in what she believes. (2:15)

This is an excellent model for senior leader communication. When leaders answer directly, they build credibility. When they avoid the question, over-explain, or drift into too much background, they lose the audience.

7. Laughter

Because Ruth’s natural tendency is to maintain a measured demeanor, her occasional laughter brings out more of her personality. (1:15)

This is a useful executive presence reminder. Presence is not about being serious all the time. A small moment of warmth can make a leader more relatable and more human.

Opportunities to Strengthen Executive Presence

Even the best speakers give us opportunities to study what could make communication stronger. That is the value of this series. We are not looking for perfection. We are looking for behaviors that help leaders become more effective.

1. Posture

Ruth’s head position is slightly forward. Adjusting the head to sit upright over the shoulders would create more energy and visual strength. (:18)

For leaders, posture can change the way a message is received. Upright posture communicates confidence before you say a word.

2. Gesture

Ruth’s body is somewhat closed off from the interviewer. When resetting to a neutral position, she could unfold her hands and place them shoulder-width apart on her legs. She could also keep her legs uncrossed with feet shoulder-width apart. (:18, 3:51)

Opening the body looks more receptive. This is especially important in leadership communication when you want to invite discussion, show openness, or encourage alternate viewpoints.

Perhaps Ruth was not trying to look open to alternate positions. That may have been intentional. Still, for most leaders in corporate settings, an open posture helps create connection and approachability.

3. Eye contact while thinking

Ruth sometimes looks down or up while thinking. If you did not know Ruth well, you might underestimate her because of this behavior. Light eye contact can make a speaker appear unsure, even when the ideas are strong. (:59, 1:30)

Ruth could also deliver piercing eye contact, which made the contrast exciting. This is an important lesson. Eye contact does not need to be constant. It needs to be intentional.

4. Vocal tone

Ruth’s vocal tone is steady and at times monotone. Varying vocal tone would make the delivery more engaging and dynamic. (throughout)

That said, her steady tone also made her very credible. It helped her lead in an understated way. Depending on your role and goal, that can be very effective.

The key is range. It is important that one vocal style is not your only style. Senior leaders need access to a range of communication options. Sometimes you need calm authority. Sometimes you need warmth. Sometimes you need energy. Sometimes you need urgency.

5. Gesture and hand visibility

Ruth’s hands remain low with little movement. She could use more visible gestures by lifting her hands off her legs occasionally to add energy to the delivery. (throughout)

We need to see hands occasionally to feel people’s confidence. There are studies that show the sight of hands can increase the speed of trust when people are meeting for the first time, in person or virtually.

For leaders, visible hands can help create openness, confidence, and connection.

Communication Lessons for The Best Speakers

Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s communication style reminds us that leadership communication does not have to be loud to be strong.

Her presence came from composure. Her credibility came from clarity. Her influence came from conviction.

For senior leaders, this is an important model. You do not need to become someone else to improve your communication. You need to understand your natural strengths and then build range around them.

• If you are calm, keep the calm. Add more vocal variety.

• If you are serious, keep the seriousness. Add moments of warmth.

• If you are thoughtful, keep the thoughtfulness. Add stronger eye contact when you land the message.

• If you are steady, keep the steadiness. Add gestures that create more energy and connection.

Executive presence is not about performing. It is about making sure your audience can see and hear the strength that is already there.

Practice This Week

Take a look at the interview we reviewed.

What quality does Ruth Bader Ginsburg demonstrate that you want to emulate?

Keep it simple. Pick one leadership communication skill to work on in the next 48 hours.

You might choose to:

• Hold stronger eye contact when answering a question

• Pause before making your most important point

• Sit taller in your next meeting

• Use one story or example to make your message memorable

• Add more vocal variety when speaking

• Keep your hands visible when communicating

  
  

Practice the skill in your next meeting. Ask a colleague for feedback.

Small changes in communication behavior can lead to meaningful personal transformation. The time and effort you invest in your leadership communication skills will be well worth it.

If you are interested in a true leap forward in your leadership communication skills, start building new communication habits that advance your leadership and increase your impact immediately.

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Learn more about Speak by Design leadership communication coaching and training at speakbydesignuniversity.com/join.