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Reclaiming Your Momentum: How to Turn Communication Into Your Catalyst for Career Growth

Updated: Apr 11

By Stephanie Bickel


You’ve over-delivered. You’re well-liked. You’re seasoned and strategic. So why are you still getting passed over?


Many high performers hit this invisible ceiling — especially when their influence has outpaced their title. The problem isn’t capability. It’s perception. The solution? Elevating your leadership presence by refining how you communicate. We help people like you step into the authority you already possess — by becoming more motivational, more concise, and more consistently compelling.


Leadership Communication

Here’s how to move from undervalued to undeniable.


1. Motivate, Don’t Just Inform


You’re insightful. You’re articulate. But to drive action, your messages need more muscle and more movement.


Try this:

  • Begin with the impact: “Here’s the shift I want to create.”

  • Use fewer qualifiers, more certainty: “I recommend…” instead of “I think maybe…”

  • End with a call-to-action that gives clear next steps: “If you agree, here’s what I’d like us to do next…”


Speak by Design Tool: Start with your conclusion first, then provide supporting rationale. Audiences don’t want a journey. They want a destination.


2. Match Your Body Language to Your Message


In high-stakes, unscripted situations, your tone and facial expressions speak before your words do. If your delivery doesn’t match your intent, your credibility suffers.


Try this:

  • Practice neutral face + strong voice when you need to show calm authority.

  • When you’re excited, pause more. Give your message room to breathe.

  • Rehearse answers to challenging questions with a camera. Watch for fidgeting, pitch changes, or awkward expressions.


Speak by Design Tool: Vocal Presence Feedback Grid — we analyze your range, speed, pitch, volume, and clarity to help you deliver with gravitas.


3. Master Self-Advocacy Without the Word Salad


You’re exhausted by “business speak.” We are too. Good news: You don’t need buzzwords to advocate for yourself — just clarity, courage, and cadence.


Try this:

  • Use metrics to frame your results: “Increased adoption by 30% in 60 days.”

  • Say what you want: “I’d like to be considered for leadership opportunities aligned with my impact.”

  • Cut filler words. Short sentences land stronger.


Speak by Design Tool: Executive Storytelling. We help you build a personal narrative that commands attention and positions you for promotion.


4. Build Influence in Broken Systems


You’re navigating dysfunction with integrity. That’s commendable. But even when you can’t control the org chart, you can build power through preparation and presence.


Try this:

  • Lead meetings with structure and intent, even when others don’t: “Here’s what we need to decide today…”

  • Don’t match passive aggression with silence. Match it with professionalism: “That’s one perspective. Here’s another approach we could consider…”

  • Identify your sponsors and keep them informed of your wins, even when your manager won’t.


Speak by Design Tool: Managing Up and Across. Learn how to position your work in a way that accelerates visibility and trust, regardless of your boss’s limitations.


5. Win the Interview Before You Enter the Room


In a saturated job market, it’s not enough to be qualified. You need to be magnetic. Convey empathy, authenticity, and enthusiasm.


Try this:

  • Show them what you’ll be like in the role: Use “we” language when describing future plans.

  • Prep for the behavioral: Use STAR format and inject energy into your delivery.

  • Look confident before you speak. That first silent moment is your first impression.


Speak by Design Tool: Interview Mastery. We help you design your verbal and nonverbal presence to make a lasting impact.


Final Thought:


Your career isn’t stalled. It’s being reforged. You’re not starting over — you’re stepping into the version of yourself that commands the stage, leads the room, and shapes the story.

Let’s make sure your communication reflects your capability. You’ve earned that.



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Our theme for May is "Clarity and Brevity". We will open up spots to those on the waitlist soon. This is a 3-day workshop on how to establish a unique level of intimacy with your clients. speakbydesign.com/join

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