The Confident Communicator - Presence & Authority

How to Communicate With Authority When People Doubt You

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…”

You can’t control their reaction. But you can communicate with authority anyway.

Here are three simple shifts:

1. Lead with purpose, not preference.

 Instead of: “I think we should post this…”

Try: “To reduce confusion and build trust, the clearest approach is to…”

Anchor your recommendation in the outcome, not your opinion.

2. Explain the “why” in plain language.

People trust what they understand. 

Don’t hide the strategy:

“If we communicate too early, we risk sharing incomplete information. If we wait until 3 p.m., we can answer the most common questions in the initial post, which reduces calls and complaints.”

3. Stay steady when pushed.

Authority isn’t about winning arguments. It’s about holding your professional line with calm clarity: “You’re responsible for the final decision, and I respect that. My professional recommendation is X because of A, B, and C.”

You are not “arguing.” You’re documenting your expertise.

Authority is not a personality trait. It’s a way of showing up clearly, consistently, and grounded in your role.