As your grow in your career, especially in leadership roles, there'll be a growing emphasis on not just *what* you say (the assumption there is you have the domain expertise already, duh!) but *how* you say it.

In other words, it's the tee up🏌️

I've seen brilliant people, practical "PhDs" in their area of subject matter expertise, get mowed down by executives either because of a poor choice of words, or because they had the "wrong slide". Absolutely brutal.

About 65% of communication is non-verbal. In the age of remote work, successfully conveying your message comes down to the right level of pre-wiring (e.g sending pre-reads ahead of time), prefacing what you say, reading your audience and listening to understand--not listening to respond.

That's what will win people to your side and convince them to follow your lead.

Sounds bleak? Ponder this quote by author and former presidential speechwriter, James Humes: "Every time you speak, you are auditioning for leadership".

And hey, don't sweat it. Turns out what works in high-pressure work environments will also set you up for success at home. As a parent, I appreciate that in dealing with a toddler or an executive, at least one of them is rational 🤞🏽.

Chance favors the prepared mind. Always.

#success #coaching #leadership #communication