Early in my career I believed being good at my job would speak for itself.  It's not enough.

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?”

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…”