Speak by Design

Virtual and hybrid meetings can be better than meeting in person. But only if you know what it takes to make them excellent.

Episode 23 covers the details that separate a forgettable screen presence from one people trust.

Lighting, background, sound, hand gestures, and how to keep a hybrid room engaged when half the audience is remote.

Podcast link in bio👆🏻

Most leaders are already good communicators.

But there is always another level.

More clarity. More confidence. A stronger point of view. The ability to think on your feet and communicate effectively when the stakes are high.

That is why we practice.

At Speak by Design group trainings, leaders learn practical communication frameworks, put them to work immediately and get real-time feedback.

And when a team gets better at communicating together, you see the impact everywhere.

In meetings. In presentations. In difficult conversations. In the culture.

Communication changes everything.

Some of the most important professional relationships start with a conversation that has absolutely nothing to do with business.

Never underestimate the value of being good at small talk.

Most leaders are already good communicators.

The opportunity is to become much more intentional about how you communicate when the stakes are high.

How clear are you?
How confidently do you deliver your message?
Can you adjust in the moment?
Do you have frameworks you can rely on when you need to think on your feet?

These are skills that get stronger with practice.

Our Speak by Design group training gives leaders the opportunity to learn, practice, get feedback and try again. And when teams build these skills together, you begin to see the impact across meetings, presentations, conversations and culture.

As one participant put it:

“To go from decent to really effective can be hugely game changing.”

We agree.

https://speakbydesign.com

If someone tells you to be more assertive, take it as an invitation.

They want to hear more from you.

They want to see more of your thinking.

They believe you can have a bigger presence in the room.

The important question is: What does “more assertive” actually mean?

In Episode 22 of the Speak by Design Podcast, I share practical ways to dial up your assertiveness without overcorrecting and becoming aggressive.

We talk about your:

→ mindset
→ voice
→ body language
→ meeting participation
→ how often you should speak
→ when to be the first voice
→ how to amplify an idea
→ how to clarify exactly what someone means when they ask you to be more assertive

There are a lot of ways to become more visible in a room.

You don't need to use all of them. You need to know which ones will make the biggest difference for you.

🎧 Episode 22: Dial Up Assertiveness

The higher you go, the more important it becomes to know how to disagree well.

Can you challenge an idea without making the conversation defensive? Can you offer a different point of view clearly and confidently?

That’s a leadership skill worth practicing.

Diplomatic. Kind. Direct.

Stories prove and move.

They prove your expertise and experience. They can also move people to think differently, see a new possibility or take action.

The strongest leaders have stories they can pull from naturally when the moment calls for them.

In Episode 21 of the Speak by Design podcast, I share the five stories every leader should have in their back pocket:

• Your story
• Your company story
• Your industry story
• Your success story
• Your picture-of-the-future story

You probably already have all five. The question is whether you have taken the time to shape and practice them.

Listen to Episode 21: Master the 5 Most Important Stories.

“You need to speak at the right level of detail.”

Frustrating feedback, especially if no one tells you what the “right level” actually is.

It changes depending on who is in the room.

Your executive team may need the strategic view. A cross-functional group may need more context.

The people responsible for getting the work done need the details.

Before your next meeting, ask yourself:

What do they need from me to understand, decide or act?