You can be smart, experienced, and successful—and still find yourself shrinking in high-stakes conversations. When that happens, it’s rarely about competence. It’s usually a few subtle communication habits that quietly dilute your authority.
Here are three practical shifts you can use immediately:
1) Stop over-explaining
If you find yourself adding extra context to prove you’ve thought it through, pause.
Try this: State your recommendation in one clear sentence, then stop. Let others ask for the details if they need them.
2) Drop the softening language
Phrases like “Just checking…” “I’m sorry to ask…” “This might be a silly idea…” weaken otherwise reasonable requests.
Try this: Replace with direct language:
“I recommend…”
“Let’s move forward with…”
3) Don’t wait to be invited
In senior rooms, influence goes to the person who assumes their voice belongs.
Try this: Enter the conversation early with a concise perspective instead of waiting for a perfect opening.
The shift isn’t about becoming louder—it’s about moving from seeking authority to assuming it, with calm certainty.
I cover this on my podcast episode that dropped today. HERE’S the link to listen.
This is exactly the work I do with women executives who want to lead high-stakes conversations with clarity, presence, and unshakable self-trust.
If something here sparked for you, I’d be glad to talk.
