Was it something I said? Why your message isn’t landing (and what to do about it).
You’ve prepared. You’ve rehearsed. You walk into the room, open your laptop, and deliver your message.
It falls flat.
Then someone else says the same thing, and that version lands.
Ever notice how two people can share the same idea, but only one leaves a lasting impression?
That’s because your audience isn’t just listening. They’re reading you.
Before your strongest points land, they’re already forming conclusions based on tone, pacing, posture, and presence.
Your words matter, but your delivery speaks first.
The primitive brain is still running the show, scanning for signs of safety, trust, and authority.
As CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman put it, while AI may be accelerating quickly, “evolutionary drift is slow.”
We’re still wired to react quickly to cues that once helped us survive. Today, those same instincts shape how your message lands.
How it shows up in real life:
You present with great content, but rushed delivery causes people to tune out and dilutes credibility
You pitch confidently, but lack of eye contact plants quiet doubt and disengages
You’re on a Zoom call glancing at notes, and your client perceives you as lacking knowledge
You’re speaking coherently, but your body is not openly facing your audience, diminishing trust
These moments aren’t about capability. They’re about alignment between what you mean and how it’s received.
Why this happens:
We form impressions in seconds, often before words begin
Facial impressions drive trust decisions in under 100 milliseconds
In high-stakes conversations, delivery patterns—tone, rhythm, pacing—matter more than content
How you move, sound, and engage isn’t extra. It’s innate in how your message lands.
7 quick adjustments to consider:
Lead with stillness to ground your presence
Open strong with a sentence that sets tone and intention
Vary your tone to keep attention and emphasize meaning
Anchor your stance to project calm confidence
Mirror energy—what you give is what you get
Match your face to your message to build trust
Close clean to leave a lasting impression
These aren’t performance tricks. They’re habits that help your message land with clarity and credibility.
Where might your delivery be sending signals that don’t match your message?
The most powerful part of communication isn’t what we say. It’s what we signal.
Here’s to showing up with intention, aligning what you say with how you say it.
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