jump start your communication with clarity, vigor and heart. Yes, heart and emotion to set you apart from the AI tools that temptingly function as your second brain.
I began crafting 26 actions in alphabetical order tailor-made for you: business leaders, speakers, and changemakers who not only want to sound better but matter more in 2026. That is, communicate with less noise and more meaning. Full transparency: I ran out of ideas for X, Y and Z. So, I got a little help from ChatGPT.
Here’s how to make your words and messages matter more this year.
A – Ask better and braver questions
Stop asking what’s safe. Ask what can move conversations forward and foster understanding and trust.
B – Build contrast into every message
Before /after. Problem /possibility. Contrast gives the brain a choice point, old way vs. new way, so attention spikes automatically.
C – Cut the script
Brevity rules. Trim your remarks and adapt to how your audience reacts in the moment.
D – Design for distracted brains
Shorter sentences. Cleaner visuals. One big idea per moment.
E – Eliminate “verbal clutter”
Delete words and phrases that don’t add meaning, including acronyms and jargon.
F – Flip filler words into thinking time
Silence beats “um” when you want authority. Pause and breathe.
G – Ground every message in outcomes
If there is no transformation in your audience, you may be talking to yourself.
H – Humanize data
One story can make ten charts unforgettable. Remember stories are about people.
I – Interrupt your own patterns
If you always open with facts and statistics, start with a touching story instead.
J – Judge less, listen more
Listening is a priceless leadership skill, not a courtesy.
K – Kill the corporate voice
Write and speak like a person, not a policy paper.
L – Lead with tension, not tidy answers
Curiosity opens minds faster than conclusions.
M – Make clarity your brand.
When people understand you quickly, they trust you more.
N – Name the elephant in the room
The moment you speak with candor and say what others won’t, trust spikes.
O – Own the pause
Silence is not a mistake. It’s a power move.
P – Practice “show your cracks” authenticity
Perfection can kill credibility. Humanity creates lasting bonds.
Q – Quit ruminating on your performance
Focus more on what your audience gained from you than your self-assessment.
R – Replace slides with stories
People remember people, not bullet points. Use slides prudently.
S – Speak to one person, not a crowd
Connection scales better than volume. Network with audience members before you speak.
T – Tell the truth faster
Delay erodes credibility. Don’t hedge or overexplain.
U – Upgrade emotional intelligence
Read the room before you deliver your speech, adjust in real time.
V – Voice your values consistently
Unspoken values don’t guide decisions. Send small, consistent signals with your words.
W – Work your communication muscle daily
Every meeting, voice note, email, coffee order, and hallway exchange is an opportunity to practice.
X – X-ray your message
If people can’t see the point quickly, it’s not clear enough yet.
Y – Yield the floor more often
Yielding the floor creates space for others to think, speak, and contribute, which elevates both trust and insight.
Z – Zoom out before you speak
When you see the bigger picture and speak from perspective, not impulse, your message lands with clarity and authority.
Which of these resonates with you? How will you incorporate them into your daily communication habits?
