This week in the world’s #1 newsletter on leadership communication:
- Clarity is Power: The Secret of Atomic Statements
- Funny Means Money: How to Use Humor as a Leadership Advantage
- Your B2B Sales Pitch Revisited
Clarity is Power: The Secret of Atomic Statements
Hi Reader,
My first live cohort starts next week. You can join me on this 9 week journey here.
Weekly topics include Storytelling Superpowers, Brand Yourself Brilliantly, and AI Communication Accelerator.
By summer, you can transform into a confident communicator who knows how to get promoted, close deals, and maximize the outcome of everything you do.
Which brings me to today’s topics.
I was working with a CEO last month who said all the right things.
He also had great vocal and physical presence.
Yet something was missing for him to become a 10 out of 10 communicator.
I couldn’t put my finger on it.
Then it hit me.
His words were strong. But they weren’t memorable.
He was forgettable.
Have you ever wondered why one business leader or podcast guest is huge while another who says the same things and is equally successful is barely known?
The reason: One uses what Will Storr calls Atomic Statements, the other doesn’t.
According to Will’s excellent new book “A Story is A Deal”, Atomic statements are “simply expressed, yet packed with explosive quantities of meaning.”
They are the aphorisms of our age.
Examples?
- "Change the world or go home." (Microsoft)
- "Make humanity an interplanetary species." (SpaceX)
- "Take back control." (Brexit)
- "The company story is the company strategy." (Ben Horowitz)
- “Change we can believe in.” (Obama)
Leaders deal in shared reality. Atomic statements are their most powerful tool.
Here's how to use them:
- Craft Your Own: Develop your own Atomic Statements. Make them concise, powerful, and repeatable.
- Integrate Them: Make them part of your culture to tell everyone “this is our shared reality”.
- Use Them Everywhere: From speeches to onboarding to interviews.
In a noisy world, clarity is power. And often, clarity comes in just a few words.
PODCAST
Funny Means Money: How to Use Humor as a Leadership Advantage
I do a podcast to help you become a top 1% communicator. Have you subscribed?
Let's be honest, any workplace can be a bit… serious.
Apparently, for no good reason. Because leaders who use humor are seen as more confident, competent and get better results – if they do it the right way.
But humor can also backfire if it is seen as inappropriate (which is why many of us hesitate to use it).
To find out what the right way is and how you and I can bring lightness to leadership, I invited Andrew Tarvin, the CEO of Humor That Works and author of the book by the same name.
Andrew – an engineer and former "quiet, serious person" turned humor expert – shows us how humor boosts morale, manages stress, and enhances team communication.
Let me share some nuggets here:
Humor = Higher Status
Appropriate (and even not-so-funny-but-well-intentioned) humor boosts your perceived confidence and competence.
It's a Skill, Not Just a Trait
Good news for the "not naturally funny" folks like myself. Humor can be learned and developed with intention and practice. Start with what you're good at!
Re-engage Your Audience (Every 5-10 Minutes!)
Andrew shares practical tips on using visuals, stories, and techniques like the "Comic Triple" to keep those attention rhythms in check during presentations.
Why are so few people funny at work?
Three reasons people hold back on using humor at work: fear of disapproval, lack of know-how, and the "no time" myth. Andrews explains how to overcome them.
😄 One Smile Per Hour Challenge
A super simple, actionable tip to start injecting more fun into your (and others') workday.
Listen to the full episode on Spotify and Apple and let's make work a little less "worky."
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
Your B2B Sales Pitch Revisited
I loved April Dunford's first book, Obviously Awesome on how to position your business or product.
Sales Pitch is the follow-up that helps you turn your positioning into a story that helps you stand out and win, specifically in B2B sales.
My key takeaways:
- It's not about selling but about helping customers buy.
- You do that by helping your customers understand exactly how your product is different and better than everything else on the market.
- Create a narrative that helps your best fit customers easily understand why they should choose you and feel very confident in making that decision.
- “Do nothing” is your fiercest competitor, as confused customers opt for the status quo.
As Zig Ziglar said: “Stop selling. Start helping.”
Have an inspired weekend!
Oliver
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