Speak by Design

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?

When two experts disagree in the room, the instinct is to defend your position.

In this clip, Stephanie Bickel talks about a different move. She's stated her position. Someone pushes back. Her job in that moment isn't to win the argument. It's to understand theirs.

"Help me understand your experience with this. What have you seen happen in the past."

That question does more for the room than any counterargument could.

Leadership isn't one fixed role. It shifts depending on what the moment calls for.

Every leader has ideas worth sharing.

But where should you share them?

You don’t need to build a personal brand, speak at conferences, or post every day to have influence.

What matters is making sure the right people hear the ideas that can move your organization forward.

In Episode 20 of the Speak by Design podcast, Stephanie Bickel shares practical ways to market your ideas, build credibility, and help your message travel further.

🎧 Listen to Episode 20: Market Your Talks on Apple Podcasts.