Speak With Confidence
Don’t Tell People What They Want to Hear
One of the quickest ways for a leader to lose credibility is to start telling people what they want to hear. It usually begins with good intentions. You sense what someone values. You notice what they want the answer to be. And you shape the message to match it. In the moment, it can feel persuasive. But it isn’t persuasion. It’s manipulation. Real persuasion works differently. It doesn’t tell people what they want to hear.
How Well Do You Communicate? A Self-Assessment
How well do you communicate? For a brief self-assessment, ask yourself the following questions (and be honest!): Do you get along with all your coworkers, your boss, your direct reports? Is it easy to talk to them? Are you successful in working with any “challenging” coworkers (we all have one!)? Does everyone understand what you mean the first time? If you use AI to generate content, does following an AI script work well in conversation?
More Speak with Confidence Tips
Tip: #1 Do you or someone you know struggle with ADHD and find it difficult to explain how or why you have done something?As an Executive Communication Coach, I have noticed more and more clients sharing their struggles with ADHD. Often, this can lead to not receiving credit for their work or having a hard time explaining to others how to replicate their process. If you resonate with this, try using a pen-and-paper mind map or audio recording app
Eight Moments That Got Big Laughs at 2026 Annual Investor Meetings
Welcome to my second annual blog on the best use of humor at global annual meetings across investment, private equity, and financial services. (For the first blog from 2025, click below) https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/eight-moments-got-big-laughs-annual-investor-meeting-sjrme/ As always, I spent most of May with some trusted colleagues, helping with speaker coaching for their annual investor meetings. After the coaching, whether for solo presenters, pairs, or business‑unit groups, we’re often onsite for the dry run and the event itself, timing
Save Time and Money with Better Communication
I’m sitting in a meeting, internally rolling my eyes, because “Chad” has hijacked it again. At this point, his voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me, as he repeats the same tired axe that he always grinds. This meeting isn’t even about what he’s talking about! And I can’t help noticing that he’s wrong about some of the things he’s saying. I choose not to engage because I’ve learned from past attempts that
The 5 Types of Talking You Do Every Day
Between human nature and the English language, there are so many nuances that it can often cause confusion or major conflict. Without putting on my Rhetorician’s hat, allow me to give a brief description of a few ways we interact verbally. This delineation will help you identify not only the type of talk you are engaged in but also whether it is productive. While a case can be made for each of these having a
Why is the Listener so Important?
Just as breakfast is often considered the most important meal of the day, analyzing who is listening to us speak is one of the most important parts of speech preparation. Unfortunately, as with breakfast, analyzing who is listening to them is a step speakers often skip. Generally, when an executive is asked to be on a panel, give a keynote, appear on a podcast, or even present to a board of directors, they go straight
Do You Sound and Appear Credible When You Speak? (Part 2)
Credibility is a building block for many communication goals, such as persuading, educating, and informing others. Whether you are pitching to a VC, working to develop new partnerships, or convincing a patient to listen to your medical advice, establishing and strengthening your credibility lays a strong foundation to help you reach your communication goals. In a previous blog, I explained how to boost your credibility through the content you deliver. A second way to boost
Handling Difficult Questions
Answer Questions with Confidence — Every Time Whether you’re on stage or in the boardroom, your credibility is built in the moments you can’t rehearse. This eBook shows you how to handle tough, unexpected questions with poise, clarity, and strategic presence. You’ll learn proven techniques to stay calm under pressure, read the intent behind any question, and respond in ways that inspire trust. Plus, you’ll get access to recorded lessons, practice prompts, and phrasing tools