Strategic Communication Begins Before You Speak

I don't usually republish articles, but this week's piece captures something I've been thinking about for a long time.

For years, I've helped professionals prepare for interviews, presentations, and leadership conversations. More recently, I've realized that the biggest communication challenges rarely begin with what someone says.

We often assume strategic communication is about becoming a better presenter or telling more compelling stories. Increasingly, I think it starts much earlier than that.

But from what I’ve seen, observed and experienced, the biggest challenge often starts with understanding the decision your audience is trying to make before you ever decide what you're going to say.

Whether you're interviewing, presenting to leadership, facilitating an advisory board, or navigating a difficult cross-functional discussion, I've found the same principle applies.

I'd love to hear whether this resonates with you after you've read it.

— Christine

You’ll also find the Strategic Communication Lens that has become one of the simplest ways I help professionals prepare for interviews, leadership conversations, presentations, and other high-stakes discussions.

It shifts the focus from preparing answers to understanding decisions.

The ideas in this article are exactly what we'll build on during the Position to Lead™ Interview Intensive on August 15.

👉 Reserve your seat here.