Every communicator needs a few go-to phrases for those moments when all eyes suddenly turn to you. Here are some that have saved me in the past...

One of the biggest shifts in a communicator’s career is this: You move from “Can you post this?” to “What do you think we should do?”

Disagreement is part of leadership especially in communication roles. You see risks other people don’t see yet. You’re responsible for how decisions land with the public, not just how they look in the room.

In a crisis or high-tension situation, communicators are often the emotional shock absorbers. Everyone has big feelings. You’re expected to be calm, clear, and composed.

You walk into a meeting feeling prepared…and then you get blindsided by criticism, questions, or assumptions no one shared with you beforehand. It’s frustrating. It’s embarrassing. And it can knock your confidence for days if you let it (I often do).

Almost every communicator has had this moment: You give your professional recommendation and someone with less expertise dismisses it with, “Well, I just feel like…”

Confidence Is Consistent. Some of the strongest communicators I know are not the loudest. They’re the ones who are: - Consistent - Prepared - Clear about their role and value Confidence isn’t a volume level. It’s a pattern. Ask yourself: - Do I follow through on what I say I’ll deliver? - Do I know how my work connects to bigger goals? - Do I make decisions based on values, not just feelings? - Do people know what to expect when they work with me? If the answer is “yes” (or e