Talk like a CEO..... #141

B2B Support with Business 737

Being a successful business owner or entrepreneur  isn’t just about having great ideas or delivering excellent services. It’s about being seen—and heard—as a leader. And in most cases, your communication either earns you influence or erodes it.

As a business consultant, I’ve coached countless founders and small business owners who sell their expertise. One thing I’ve learned? The fastest way to boost your credibility, attract better clients, and accelerate business growth is to improve the way you communicate.

This isn’t about fancy words or sounding impressive. It’s about business strategy—and mastering the five simple habits that can turn a passive voice into powerful leadership.

Whether you’re running client meetings, pitching to corporate buyers, or growing your visibility, these communication shifts are game changers.

1. Speak to Lead, Not to Be Liked

Many entrepreneurs fall into the trap of trying to be agreeable. They want to keep everyone happy, avoid confrontation, and sound polite.

But here's the problem: language that is vague, soft, or overly deferential makes you sound unsure—even when you're the expert in the room.

If you’re selling your knowledge, people look to you for direction.

Every time you hedge your statements with phrases like “I think” or “I feel”, you reduce your authority.

➡️ Swap “I think we could try this” for: “The best path forward is…”

➡️ Swap “I feel like this might work” for: “Here’s the strategy that will get us the result.”

This is one of the simplest but most effective pieces of small business advice I give clients: speak with clarity and ownership. Confidence isn’t arrogance—it’s leadership.

Clear communication saves time, aligns teams, and wins deals. It’s also the difference between being liked and being trusted.

2. Don’t Let Emotions Hijack Your Message

One of the fastest ways founders and small business owners lose influence is by reacting emotionally in high-stakes situations. Whether it's frustration, defensiveness, or overexcitement, emotional overload clouds logic—and it shows.

As a business consultant, I’ve seen this countless times. One entrepreneur I worked with had the perfect pitch for a corporate buyer, but let nerves and emotional language dominate the conversation. The result? A lukewarm response from the client.

Instead of letting your emotions override your message, develop the discipline to lead with logic. When things get tense, pause. Breathe. Ask a clarifying question. You’ll look calm and feel more in control.

💡 Think of yourself as a blade of grass, not a rigid stick. A blade of grass bends when pressure is applied—but it doesn't break. You can be responsive without being reactive.

3. Know Why You’re in the Room

Effective communication doesn’t mean talking more—it means speaking with intention. And if you don’t know why you’re part of a meeting, call, or discussion, it shows in your delivery.

This is something I stress often in business growth sessions with clients. Before entering any professional space, ask yourself:

• What is my goal?

• What do I want to contribute or learn?

• What decision needs to be made?

  
  

When a solopreneur walks into a room without a clear purpose, they fade into the background. But when a founder shows up with clarity, they command attention—even if they say less.

Don’t show up out of habit—show up with a goal. Know the problem you're solving or the question you're asking. That’s how you build credibility and momentum.

4. Master the Art of Strategic Questioning

Here’s something that surprises a lot of entrepreneurs: Great leaders don’t have all the answers. They ask better questions.

I once worked with a solopreneur who struggled with team performance. He assumed he needed to micromanage everything. Instead, we built a questioning framework he used to guide his team to solutions. The result? His employees became more proactive, and he gained back five hours a week.

If you want to lead, ask questions like:

• “What data supports this decision?”

• “What’s the biggest challenge we haven’t solved yet?”

• “What would it take to ensure this never happens again?”

  
  

These are the kinds of questions that drive business growth because they uncover root issues—not surface-level symptoms.

Every question is a chance to elevate the conversation. If your questions improve, your results will too.

5. Stop Oversharing—Start Landing Your Point

Have you ever had a conversation where someone kept circling back, re-explaining their idea over and over again? It’s like a plane that never lands. Not only is it exhausting—it instantly reduces the speaker’s credibility.

Oversharing usually stems from a lack of confidence. But when you know what to say—and you say it with intention—you don’t need to repeat yourself. In fact, clarity is the confidence.

One founder I supported kept softening her delivery when giving team feedback. We worked on scripting her message ahead of time and practicing direct delivery. Within a month, she reported stronger team results and less stress during performance reviews.

Be clear, be kind, be done. You don’t need to justify your expertise—it speaks for itself when your words are focused and firm.

You Don’t Need to Feel Like a Leader to Speak Like One

The truth is, most successful entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and founders didn’t start out confident. They became confident through consistent action—and communication was their greatest tool.

These five skills—speaking to lead, controlling emotion, using authority, asking better questions, and eliminating oversharing—are more than communication tips. They’re part of a broader business strategy that builds trust, authority, and influence.

Mastering these shifts can turn overwhelmed business owners into powerful leaders who close more deals, manage teams more effectively, and grow faster.

Ready to Get More Clients and Grow with Confidence?

You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Our proven frameworks take the guesswork out of growth, so you can stop spinning and start scaling—with clarity, confidence, and control.

👉 Book your clarity call today and let’s build your powerful voice—and your thriving business—together.