Dear Reader,

Have you ever seen this happen?

Someone is preparing for an important meeting. Maybe they're presenting to senior leadership, interviewing for a bigger role, or finally getting some face time with the CEO. And suddenly they stop sounding like themselves.

The simple, straightforward way they normally communicate gets replaced by Corporate Executive Person™.

They start using bigger words. Longer sentences. More jargon.

“We need to leverage our cross-functional capabilities to optimize the strategic implementation of…”

Wait. What? What happened to the person I was talking to five minutes ago?

There seems to be this idea that the more senior the room, the more “senior” we need to sound.

But I think we often have this backwards.

Some of the most impressive leaders I’ve worked with don't make complicated things sound more complicated.

They make them sound simple.

They know their point. They get to it. And they trust that the point is strong enough that they don't need to dress it up in a whole lot of corporate language.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't prepare. And it certainly doesn't mean you should walk into an important meeting and wing it.

But preparation should help you get clearer, not make you sound like a different person.

So the next time you're preparing for a high-stakes conversation, presentation, or meeting, try asking yourself:

How would I say this if I were just having a conversation?

Chances are, that version is shorter. Clearer. And sounds a whole lot more like you.

A challenge for this week: Catch yourself using a word or phrase you would never use in a normal conversation.

“Leverage.”
“Operationalize.”
“Synergize.”
“Circle back.” (Okay, I’ll admit, sometimes I totally use this one.)

Then ask yourself: What am I actually trying to say? And say that instead.

With ease, Tracy

Forwarded from a friend? Subscribe to With Ease Bi-Weekly Newsletter here!​

I offer 1:1 coaching, group coaching, team facilitation, and public speaking, and tailor offerings to the specific needs of you/your workplace. ​Contact me to learn more​.

Is coaching right for you?

If you’re leading well on the outside but carrying too much on the inside, coaching can help. I work with leaders who want clarity, confidence, and impact, without burning themselves out to get there.
​

Let’s connect - book 30 minutes here.

​