Enhancing Communication Clarity

How to Speak So That People Listen to You The 10-Second Rule Ever shared a great idea, only to be met with silence? Meanwhile, someone else says something similar - and everyone listens. Here’s the truth: People don’t listen to what’s important. They listen to what’s clear, compelling, and concise. Master the 10-Second Rule and get heard! 1. Deliver your main idea within 10 seconds. ↳ The brain filters out complexity to save energy. ↳ Clarity lowers cognitive load, easier to process. ↳ Clarity wins. Try this: 🚫 "So, the other day I was thinking about..." ✅ "We’re losing leads because emails aren’t personalized. Here’s how to fix it." 2. Use their name - it grabs attention. ↳ The brain focuses when it hears its name. Try this: 🚫 "I have an idea." ✅ "David, here’s a strategy that could work." 3. Lower your voice slightly for emphasis. ↳ A deeper, slower voice signals authority. Try this: Lower your pitch and slow down on key points. 4. Pause after key points - let them land. ↳ Silence makes words feel weightier. Try this: Stop talking after key points. Let silence do the work. 5. Look for nods or engagement before continuing. ↳ Conversations, not monologues, hold attention. Try this: If people look confused, pause and ask, "Would an example help?" 6. Use short, clear sentences. ↳ The brain tunes out complex wording. ↳ Simplicity keeps people engaged. Try this: 🚫 "We need to streamline our processes to improve efficiency and reduce bottlenecks." ✅ "We need to simplify our workflow. Let’s focus on 3 key areas." 7. Make it about them, not you. ↳ People care about their priorities, not yours. Try this: 🚫 "I think this is a great idea." ✅ "This will help you hit your Q2 targets faster." 8. Speak as if telling a story. ↳ Stories stick - facts don’t. Try this: 🚫 "Customer satisfaction dropped 10% last quarter." ✅ "Last quarter, 100 customers didn’t get a resolution in time. Here’s what changed." 9. Pause for 2 seconds before speaking. ↳ Signals confidence. ↳ Prevents rushing or hesitation. Try this: Count “1, 2, 3…” in your head before speaking. Confident speakers make it easy for others to understand them… and that’s power. Which of these resonated most with you? Share in the comments. ♻️ Repost and support your network ➕ Follow Meera Remani for strategies on leadership growth

Found this 1980 ad about writing clearly. 65 years later, it's still the best writing advice I've ever seen: 1) Know exactly what you want to say before you start Most people start writing and figure it out as they go. That's why most writing sucks. Thompson says outline first, write second. Revolutionary concept, apparently. 2) Start where your readers are, not where you are Don't assume people know what you know. Meet them at their level of understanding, then bring them along. Most "experts" write for other experts and wonder why nobody gets it. 3) Use familiar word combinations Thompson's example: A scientist wrote "The biota exhibited a one hundred percent mortality response." Translation: "All the fish died." Stop trying to sound smart. Start trying to be clear. 4) Arrange your points logically Put the most important stuff first. Then the next most important. Then the least important. Seems obvious, but most people do it backwards. 5) Use "first-degree" words Thompson says some words bring immediate images to mind. Others need to be "translated" through first-degree words before you see them. "Precipitation" => "Rain" "Utilize" => "Use" "Facilitate" => "Help" 6) Cut the jargon Thompson warns against words and phrases "known only to people with specific knowledge or interests." If your mom wouldn't understand it, rewrite it. 7) Think like your reader, not like yourself Thompson asks: "Do they detract from clarity?" Most writers ask: "Do I sound professional?" Wrong question. TAKEAWAY: This ad is from 1960. The internet didn't exist. Social media wasn't even a concept. But the principles of clear communication haven't changed. Most people still can't write clearly because they're trying to impress instead of express.

Here's a new article written with Amy Edmondson for Harvard Business Review. In it, we explore how 'conversational failures' often cause breakdowns in psychological safety rather than being used as opportunities to learn and develop. It is vital we continue to develop our capacity for having difficult and critical conversations - if we're not having at least some uncomfortable conversations in our team, we are unlikely to be having the conversations that matter. "Corporate initiatives to encourage speaking up and to build psychological safety are a good first step, but we’ve noticed many contain problematic assumptions that when employees do finally speak up, they’ll do so skilfully from the start, and that the person speaking up is predominantly responsible for the success of the interaction, rather than the listener. As a result, there is little in these programs that covers how both speaker and listener respond to a failed interaction and learn from it." We discuss three key reasons why it is so difficult to learn from these failures: 1. We are oblivious to the failure 2. We experience counterproductive emotions 3. We are too busy and focused on the short-term Then we look at how these failures can become 'intelligent' (as per Amy's recent work in 'Right Kind of Wrong'): 1. Prepare to learn (we often focus on preparing to speak and listen but not on the potential for learning) 2. Notice critical moments (feelings of shame / frustration are cues that you need to pause, reflect and inquire) 3. Implement process tools (that help develop meta-awareness, such as short pauses) 4. Attend to learning over the long term (and notice, if you are in a position of power, signals that you might be sending that influence those around you to attend too much on the short-term) We conclude that "conversational failures, when recognized, are evidence of good team health. Recognizing breakdowns means people are saying things new and different, rather than simply going through the motions of discussing agenda items. A conversational failure is intelligent when it is noticed — not ignored or buried — and taken seriously as an opportunity to gain insight. This is where useful cultural change begins." Many thanks to our editor Ania Wieckowski Masinter for her wise direction!

Here’s a trick for getting someone on board with your idea: distill it into one word. I’ve learned to use this method for many ideas I’d like to see implemented at Duolingo. I’ve told this story before: Early in our journey, I was convinced we needed to offer a subscription option. I would walk around the office and anytime I saw a colleague I’d simply say: “subscriptions.” I probably said it a thousand times per week. Pretty soon, people knew what I cared about, and wanted to learn more. How does one-word persuasion work? It’s similar to the domino effect that I’ve discussed before. Since I don’t have many direct reports, I have to influence people in other ways. People who don’t work with me often are curious about what I care about. Simplifying that into one word (“subscriptions”) gets the message across quickly. OK, there’s a little more to it. It has to be a sound idea—and I never pitch something that I haven’t researched thoroughly myself. And of course, I’d have to initially explain the concept to others (but keep it simple: one of the big data points I used for subscriptions was that 9 out of the 10 top-grossing education apps were subscription products). The key here: I only did this once. The idea was compelling enough that I could share my thoughts one time, and the rest, I’d just have to say the word. I was like a walking practice reminder. Not every idea or word works for this. For example, “AI” is a tough one-word pitch. It can mean so many things, and the action isn’t clear. It’s also fairly obvious—of course we should invest in the latest technology. What makes a good one-word pitch? 1. It should be surprising. At the time, we weren’t exploring subscriptions, so it wasn’t an obvious next step. A surprising word is the best way to spark interest and conversation. 2. The one word should be able to encapsulate the entire idea. “Subscriptions” = we should offer subscriptions. Enough said. 3. It should be “completable”, with an implicit goal attached. Once we launched a subscription product, I could move onto my next word. But if the word had been “AI,” would we ever really be done? (P.S.: If you’ve read “To Sell Is Human” by Daniel H. Pink, he also talks about the “one word pitch.” It forces clarity, and I strive for simplicity in my work.)

I once asked my youngest daughter what she thought I did for work, and she said, "You sit on Zoom and give people your opinion all day." While there's more to my day than that, she's not entirely wrong! As you climb the career ladder, your schedule fills with presentations—some inspiring, others not so much. Here’s how to make sure yours stands out when presenting to senior leaders: 1. Be Specific, Not Overly Detailed: You've probably heard, "Keep it high-level for executives; avoid the weeds." True, but don't swing too far into the abstract. Ground your points with concrete facts and data. For instance, instead of saying, "Some code deployments aren't automated and there are opportunities for improvement," try, "Our analysis shows 25% of code deployments require manual effort, particularly in post-change validations and service restarts." 2. Harness the Power of Storytelling: Transform your presentation into a captivating narrative. Stories make data relatable and memorable. Start with a real-world example, like a customer struggling with your current system, highlight the problem and then move on to your solution. 3. Start with the 'Why': Dive into the heart of your proposal by explaining its significance. Why should your audience care? How does it align with their goals? For example, "By automating these processes, we not only boost efficiency but also advance our strategic goal of enhancing customer satisfaction." 4. Foster a Dialogue, Not a Monologue: Remember, communication is a two-way street. Anticipate your audience's reactions and be ready to engage. Hit your key points swiftly, avoid over-explaining, and focus on insights that empower decision-making. After presenting, ask questions to invite discussion. These strategies can help you tie together facts, emotions, and strategic insights, making your message not just heard, but remembered and acted upon. #presentationtips #careertips #careeradvice

Stop babbling! Struggling to ask a clear, concise question is a very common thing that I see damage executive presence. If you want to be an executive, you must speak like one. Here is how to make a better impression: In all my classes, we always do a live Q&A. Everyone has experienced someone who gets up to the microphone and rambles without arriving at a clear question, leaving others wondering what they are talking about. Surprisingly, this even happens in my executive class, “Cracking the C-Suite,” where people are hoping to get Chief Officer jobs. Before the Q&A, I always tell the class that this is a chance to practice and demonstrate their Executive Presence by asking a concise, clear question. I then give them time to prepare. While a few succeed, most do not. The main reasons that some struggle are these: 1) They do not write out their question. It is one thing to struggle when you are put on the spot, but all of these people have time to prepare. However, they simply decide what they want to ask in their minds and do no further preparation. This is a mistake. Write your question down in its clearest and most concise version. 2) They do not practice the question. After writing the question down, it would take less than a minute to speak your question out loud a couple of times to get used to stating it quickly and clearly. You should practice your question as though it were a short public speaking opportunity. In essence, it is. 3) They over-contextualize and qualify We all think our own lives are fascinating and that the context of our situation really matters. But, in most cases, it doesn't. The core questions that people ask are very simple, such as "my boss micromanages me - how can I change that?" The exact type of micromanagement makes almost no difference. Cut out all but the most necessary context, and realize that if the person answering your question needs more context they can simply ask. 4) Verbal Fidgeting We often say too much because we are nervous and uncertain, and saying too much makes us look and sound exactly that way. I call this verbal fidgeting because it is touching and playing with words to ease our nerves, just as we sometimes do with physical objects. Executive presence is amplified by short, powerful, direct, declarative sentences. Recognize if you have the tendency to “fidget,” and combat it by preparing and practicing your question until you no longer need to. Readers—who in your life could benefit from stronger speaking skills? Send them this post. And, share any other tips for improved speaking/question-asking.

You know that sinking feeling… Someone interrupts your carefully prepared presentation with “But what about...?” and raises a point you never considered. Everyone is looking at you, and you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. In that moment, the idea or solution you’ve been presenting weighs in the balance. Address the resistance well, and your idea will likely be adopted with even more optimism than before. Address it poorly, and your idea is as good as gone. Here’s a quick overview of my “RAP” formula that you can use in these moments to turn blindside objections into “aha” moments. 1. R: Recognize the type of resistance you’re facing: - Logical resistance (conflicting data or reasoning) - Emotional resistance (values or identity challenges) - Practical resistance (implementation concerns) 2. A: Address it proactively in your presentation: - For logical resistance: Acknowledge competing viewpoints before they’re raised. "Some might point to last quarter’s numbers as evidence against this approach. Here’s why that perspective is incomplete..." - For emotional resistance: Connect your idea to their existing values. "This initiative actually strengthens our commitment to customer-first thinking by..." - For practical resistance: Demonstrate you’ve considered the real-world constraints. "I know this requires significant change. Here’s our phased implementation plan that accounts for..." 3. P: Provide a path forward that transforms resistance into alignment: - Give them space to voice concerns (but in a structured way) - Incorporate their perspective into the solution - Show how addressing their resistance actually strengthens the outcome The most powerful thing you can say in a presentation isn’t "trust me", it’s "I understand your concerns." When you genuinely see resistance as valuable feedback rather than an obstacle, you’ll find your ideas gaining traction where they previously stalled. #CommunicationSkills #BusinessCommunication #PresentationSkills

I have led or been part of nine Executive Teams in hotels and resorts worldwide. Different cultures, different sizes, different contexts. But no matter where I was, there was always one universal challenge: communication. It wasn’t about intelligence. It wasn’t about experience. It wasn’t even about effort. The biggest breakdowns—the ones that led to frustration, misalignment, and a lack of trust—always came back to how people communicated (or didn’t). Bernard Weber said it best: "Between what I think. what I want to say, what I believe I say, what I say, what you want to hear, what you believe to hear, what you hear, what you want to understand, what you think you understand, what you understand... There are ten possibilities that we might have some problem communicating." And that is exactly the issue. We assume that just because we said something, it was understood. That just because we explained something once, it is clear. That just because we meant something a certain way, it was received that way. But that’s rarely the case. Poor communication doesn’t just cause confusion. It creates frustration. It makes people feel unheard. It erodes trust. And when trust is gone, so is connection, alignment, and performance. So how do we fix this? First, by recognizing that communication is not just about speaking. It is about listening. The best leaders don’t just express their message, they check for clarity. Second, by setting the tone. If leadership communication is vague, reactive, or inconsistent, teams will mirror that. But when leaders communicate with clarity, intention, and presence, their teams do the same. And third, by making it safe to clarify. A workplace where people hesitate to ask, “What do you mean by that?” is a workplace that will always struggle with misalignment. This is the work I do with teams. Helping leaders refine how they communicate. Helping teams create cultures where people don’t just assume, they UNDERSTAND. Because the teams that communicate well? They are the teams that trust each other. And the teams that trust each other? They are the ones that perform at the highest level. What’s been your experience with communication challenges in leadership? Let’s talk. #conscioushospitality #leadership #hospitality #team #hotelier

Public speaking terrifies most people. More than death. I used to be one of them. Standing in front of people felt like exposing every insecurity I had. But here's what changed everything for me: Realising it's just a skill. Like driving or cooking or using Excel. Nobody's born knowing how to give a presentation. We just think some people are naturally good at it. The truth is simpler. Good speakers have learned techniques that bad speakers haven't. Here are 9 techniques that actually work: 1️⃣ Hook them in the first 10 seconds ↳ Use a stat, story, or uncomfortable truth ↳ Win them early or lose them entirely 2️⃣ Lead with your conclusion ↳ Don't warm up or build suspense ↳ Tell them what matters, then explain how you got there 3️⃣ Master the power pause ↳ Say something important, then stop talking ↳ 2-3 seconds of silence makes people lean in 4️⃣ Follow the rule of three ↳ Group ideas into three parts ↳ Audiences remember 3s better than 2s or 5s 5️⃣ Keep stories under 2 minutes ↳ Stories work until they drag on too long ↳ Make your point and move on 6️⃣ Use the contrast technique ↳ "Most people do this, here's what I do instead" ↳ Comparison turns boring points into memorable ones 7️⃣ Create suspense before revealing answers ↳ Start with tension, delay the resolution ↳ Make them wait for the payoff 8️⃣ Repeat what you want them to remember ↳ Say it twice with a pause between ↳ Repetition creates retention 9️⃣ Pass the chair test ↳ Would your talk work sitting down? ↳ Great speakers don't rely on theatrics Learning to speak confidently changed everything about how I show up. In meetings, presentations, even casual conversations. Your ideas deserve to be heard clearly. These techniques help make that happen. Do you have another tip you would add to the list? Let me know in the comments. ♻️ Repost to help someone find their voice 👉 Follow Lauren Murrell for more like this 🌐 Book me for your event: lauren-murrell.com

🌟Behind the Scenes of Public Speaking 🌟 I've often received messages complimenting me on how my public appearances and addresses come across as being effortless. As senior representatives of the larger industry and our organisation, we’re often invited to speak at events and share our insights on stage or in front of a camera. The first time going up on an imposing stage in front of an audience, or the first time facing a camera, can be overwhelming to anyone. But remember, while it may seem like public speaking comes naturally to some, this ability isn’t necessarily innate—it can be practised, honed, and carefully crafted over time. What appears effortless on stage is often times a product of deliberate preparation. Sharing the 5 principles I follow to ensure my presentations are impactful: 🗒 In-Depth Research: Mastering the subject matter is crucial. This is a continuous process and needs dedication. I dive deep into data, trends, and case studies regularly, to make sure I have relevant and compelling insights at my fingertips - and not just for a speaking engagement. ➡ Deliberate Practice: Rehearsing just before an engagement will only take you so far. It’s about refining your delivery style, flow of thoughts and anticipating transitions, over a period of time. Only then will you truly own the material - so that it feels completely natural. 🗣 Personalised Delivery: The best speeches are the ones that mirror natural conversations. So, as you delve into the exercise of learning and practising public speaking, you will find that the best way to structure what you have to say, is to keep it as close as possible to your natural conversation style. This approach fosters authenticity, ensuring the message lands in a way that feels completely you. 👥 Audience-centric Approach: Understanding who you are speaking to —what they care about, what challenges they face, what is relevant to the context of the engagement — will help you fine-tune and tailor your message for maximum impact. 🔄 Continuous Refinement: Actively seek feedback after each and every talk, in order to continuously refine your technique. This cycle of reflection and improvement is key to evolving as a communicator. The magic of public speaking often lies in the unseen hours of preparation that goes before it. What seems effortless in public is, in fact, shaped before and after the actual delivery.