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Speak with Confidence

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CAT’S BLOG POSTS

Woman being confident when presenting in front of a group

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

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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

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Executive communicating complex ideas with clarity

Do You Sound and Appear Credible When You Speak? (Part 1)

As an executive communication coach, I often talk with clients about the importance of credibility or ethos for speakers. If you want people to listen to, care about, and be persuaded by what you say, it is incredibly important to establish credibility with your listeners. If you’re an executive, you are certainly experienced and have many credentials and degrees, but listing those verbally can be boring and at worst may be seen as pretentious! How

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Using the HEC strategy to communicate clearly and get to the point

Do You Struggle to Get to the Point? Try the HEC Strategy!

Ever been asked to “get to the point” and found yourself scrambling? If so, you might be an inductive thinker—someone who starts with smaller details and builds toward the bigger picture. While this approach feels natural for many, it can waste time and frustrate deductive thinkers, who prefer starting with the conclusion. Enter the HEC strategy: Headline-Example-Comment. This simple framework helps you speak clearly and efficiently in 20 seconds or less. 1. Headline Start with

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Turning technical jargon into clear and understandable language

From Jargon to Clarity

In technical fields, your expertise is invaluable—but when sharing complex information with non-technical listeners, the goal isn’t to showcase your depth of knowledge. Instead, focus on helping them understand and trust what you’re saying. As a communication coach with 30 years of experience, my advice is simple: “It’s not about you.” Your listeners need clarity, not complexity. Tailoring your message to how they want to receive it fosters understanding and builds trust. Here are three

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Executive presenting during leadership communication training

Speak with Confidence Tips

Tip #1: Consider your use of contractions If you want to polish and add gravitas to your speaking style, it’s time to reconsider your use of contractions. The words below can be a good start to set a formal tone and an excellent approach to elevate your messaging. aren’t → are not; there’s → there is; can’t → cannot; they’d → they had; couldn’t → could not; they’ll → they will; didn’t → did not;

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