Serious about sales acceleration? Welcome 👋 Sales Coach for B2B firms ($1M-$5M revenue) | I optimize sales processes in finance, consulting & technology. 👉 Try Risk Free: strategysprints.com

Serious about sales acceleration? 

If you're running a $1M-$5M B2B firm in finance, consulting, or tech, you know the frustration: 
❌ Promoting a webinar for weeks only to present to an empty room 
❌ Watching attendees drop off as soon as you make your pitch 
❌ Checking your CRM to see no booked sales calls & ZERO pipeline

We fix this. Fast. Our clients typically see 25-40% win rate increases within 90 days through optimized positioning, messaging, and sales systems. The results? 

✅ Our clients book 4x more sales calls than their industry average. 
✅ Their email list grows week over week, generating +$200K deals for them. 
✅ Marketing turns from dreaded to FUN for both founders and their team. 

👉 Ready to turn your sales team into a revenue machine? strategysprints.com

Simone Severino CSC

Serious about sales acceleration? Welcome 👋 Sales Coach for B2B firms (+$1M in Profits) | I optimize sales processes in finance, consulting & technology. 👉 Try Risk Free: strategysprints.com

The Power of Being Unknown We are going to steal from ServiceNow for you today. The two marketing secrets we'll steal for you will be things you can i

Open article: STEALING SERVICENOW: Two Marketing Secrets You Can Implement Today by Simone Severino CSC • 2 min read

STEALING SERVICENOW: Two Marketing Secrets You Can Implement Today

Your sales team is getting cooked right now.

Buyers? Ghosting.
Deals? Stalling.
Economy? A dumpster fire.

Meanwhile, some CEO you've never heard of just closed another "impossible" deal.

What gives?

I just talked to Rob Fencster (61, former Army officer, zero BS tolerance) and he dropped this:

"A warrior doesn't fight everyone in front of them. A warrior protects those behind them."

Translation: Stop whining about the economy and start controlling what you CAN control.

Can't control the Middle East 

Can't control recession fears 

Can control your attitude 

Can control your message 

Can control showing up like you KNOW you can change lives 


Your competitors are waiting for "the right time."

Your buyers are waiting for "certainty."

Warriors? They just take their stand.

Rob's old Army commander had one rule: "Leaders are readers."

If you couldn't tell him what you were reading, you got filed.

So... what are YOU reading?

Or are you just hoping things get better? 


https://lnkd.in/gd2NS2PY

Open video: Sales Leader: Unlock Your Inner Warrior on youtube.com

Taking big strategic decisions alone?

I prefer having a sparring partner.

Someone to challenge the idea.

Come up with better angles.

Like we do every monday.

Right now we are discussing:
1) Repeatable sales
2) Recurring sales
3) Passive income

And it's not just mentoring.

It's making friends for life, from LA to Paris. 

Join us: www.strategysprints.com

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The $2.4M Mistake Last February, a consulting firm founder watched his ideal clients panic during a major regulatory announcement. His phone should ha

li_at

JSESSIONID

LinkedIn Login, Sign in | LinkedIn

Closing a $240K in new contracts within 72 hours. And other lessons from studying a cookie company.

Valuation of Astera Labs including: $ALAB Solves critical signal integrity problems in AI infrastructure (PCIe 6.0, CXL connectivity). 

Products are essential for 2025-2027 AI buildouts, but stickiness is medium-high with significant threats from larger competitors.

Top 3 Competitors compared, full valuation inside.

theinvestingshow.beehiiv.com

ALAB

Astera Labs

When CEOs achieve organizational alignment...

Operations tend to improve significantly. 

Clients feel seen

Margins improve

Sometimes, achieving this alignment can be challenging...

That's why we host the quarterly alignment workshop. 

👉Reserve your seat: https://lnkd.in/gc2zrhGe

Your competitor wrote a mediocre book
$19.95 on Amazon
3 months later: closed your $50K client
You: still tweeting
I just watched 3 founders expose the entire book-to-clients playbook

$0 editing strategy
80K emails in 6 months
Why they rewrote everything after chapter 11

Best part: One guy turns down $200K speaking gigs
"I don't commute"
Instead: 4 podcasts/day from home
That's strategy.
Watch it: https://lnkd.in/gR6scQK2

Open video: Book Marketing That Actually Works: 5 Strategies That Generated $500K in Sales on youtube.com

Book Marketing That Actually Works: 5 Strategies That Generated $500K in Sales

Quit either now.

Or don't quit at all, endure. 

Whatever you do, don't quit in the dip. 

Rather join other founders that support you. 

Through membership in our community, you will find:

1. Clarity that cuts through the noise and instills confidence in your business decisions.

2. Connection with both me and like-minded founders who support your growth, and

3. Calm in the midst of market storms and sparks of a more mindful, fulfilling life.

🐬 Access the most comprehensive support system for founders today: www.strategysprints.com

One of my clients once told me, “I hate relying on luck for sales.” 
My answer? Build a system.

This week, LinkedIn strategist Jason Osborn will break down exactly how to do that — creating a steady stream of qualified leads without ads and without chasing.

📅 Thursday, November 20 | 9 pm UK / 4 pm EST
 👉 Free Training: https://lnkd.in/g7qiiX4R

Here’s what you’ll walk away with:
- A LinkedIn profile that pulls clients in like a magnet
- A daily flow of high-quality prospects filling your pipeline
- A clear, predictable path to your next sale

Sprinter, want to scale revenue without scaling stress? This is the room you want to be in. 🚀

Open article: Free Live LinkedIn Training by impactforleads.com

It’s happening today. 🚀

Jason Osborn is going LIVE to show you how to generate consistent, high-quality leads on LinkedIn… without ads, pressure, or gimmicks.

📅 Thursday, November 20
 🕓 4 pm EST / 9 pm UK

If you want a pipeline that brings in leads every single week (not just once in a while), this session is a must.

Growth comes from rhythm. Jason will show you exactly how to build it. 🔥

Register here: https://lnkd.in/gpyBVKxu

Great marketers understand: 
Buyer psychology
Pricing Power
Business Strategy

Learn why people buy.
Make it easy for them.
Build flywheels around it.

Let's get to work:
www.strategysprints.com

You can do this!

Through membership in our community, you will find:

1. Clarity that cuts through the noise and instills confidence in your business decisions.

2. Connection with both me and like-minded founders who support your growth, and

3. Calm in the midst of market storms and sparks of a more mindful, fulfilling life.

🐬 Access the most comprehensive support system for founders today: strategysprints.com

Why isn't my marketing hitting the bull's-eye? 🎯

That's what she asked before we joined forces. Here's what we revamped:

1. Crisp, Clear Messaging ✉️
2. On-the-Dot, Engaging Content 🕒
3. Referral Engines Now in Full Throttle 🚀

Guess what? If she takes a week off, her inbox gets flooded with Where's my email? I miss your updates! messages. 💌

From being a needle in the haystack to having a waitlist brimming with eager prospects. 📈

Ready to write your own blockbuster success story? 🌟

Dive in to know how: www.strategysprints.com

Before fatherhood, I believed I had an ironclad immune system. 💪

Turns out, I was just a pro at dodging face sneezes. 😷

Stepping into the CEO role, I thought leadership was all about service. 

Quickly learned it’s about mastering repeatable sales processes for real impact. 🚀

Wondering where to kick start REPEATABLE sales success? 🤔

Dive in here: www.strategysprints.com

Open article: Business Coaching for Agencies, Consultancies, SaaS. Strategy Sprints. by strategysprints.com

Business Coaching for Agencies, Consultancies, SaaS. Strategy Sprints.

Otis Elevator Co. is better than Bonds right now. 

The inflection in free cash flow generation provides the catalyst, while the resilient Service business provides the safety. You're not paying for perfection—the market has already discounted the China headwinds and New Equipment softness. What you're getting is a chance to own a true compounder at a reasonable price just as the cash flow metrics begin to inflect upward.

Open article: OTIS by theinvestingshow.beehiiv.com

A rare setup where low risk meets reliable yield

Happy sales tanking!

www.strategysprints.com

Arista Networks represents something rare in public markets: a high-margin, capital-light business with a massive growth runway, positioned at the epicenter of the AI infrastructure buildout, run by world-class leadership, with a fortress balance sheet. But is it too late to buy? 

⛲️Let's run a valuation:

Open article: ANET by theinvestingshow.beehiiv.com

Earnings Review: The tokens must translate to terawatts, teraflops and terabits.

Building A Recession Proof Portfolio LIVE

Ghostwriter & Messaging Strategist helping leaders achieve 70% opt-ins with a Microstory Journey using the 3-Minute Story Blueprint to build trust and convert hesitant prospects into eager customers.

Most businesses struggle to convert leads because they rely on forgettable downloads and meaningless discounts that fail to create an emotional connection. 

Prospects don't just need information, they need to feel valued, to trust you, and to experience genuine engagement. 

That's why I created the concept of the Microstory Journey, a 5-day emotional experience that uses the 3-Minute Story Blueprint to touch hearts, build authentic connections, and establish unshakable trust, turning hesitant prospects into eager customers ready to take action.

AWAI Verified Copywriter
Case Studies Certification
Sales Enablement Certification

WRITING SERVICES I PROVIDE:

📨 5-Day Education Email Courses
💲 Ghostwriting on Social Media Platforms
📰  Newsletters
🌐   Web Content
✍️   Blog Posting
📧   Email Marketing
🛒   Sales Pages
📱   Facebook/Google Ads 

WHOM I WORK WITH: I help executives, CEOs, founders, & coaches.

3 Simple Steps to Powerful Messaging
1. Define your goals and messaging. 
2. Develop a customized storytelling strategy. 
3. Execute and refine messaging for maximum impact.

HERE'S WHAT TO DO NEXT:
Email me at mike@mikehays.net OR
Book a call with me at https://calendly.com/ask-mikehays

Mike Hays

“If I were really that good… wouldn’t people just know?”

I used to think great work spoke for itself.

That thought used to haunt me.

I’d pour my heart into coaching, get referrals 
here and there, and quietly assume that great 
work would naturally lead to great clients.

Meanwhile, I watched others post daily.
Sharing testimonials. Wins. Lessons. Offers.
At first, I judged them. “Must be compensating,” I told myself.

But beneath that judgment?
A fear I didn’t want to name.

The day I tried writing a post about my services, I froze.
It felt like admitting I wasn’t good enough.
Like needing to promote meant my work couldn’t speak for itself.

But then a client said something that cracked the whole illusion:

I had no idea you even did that. 
I would’ve hired you months ago if I knew.

That hit hard.

Here’s what I finally realized:

The people who need you the most aren’t psychic.
They don’t see the lives you’ve changed unless you show them.
They don’t know the depth of your work unless you talk about it.

Self-promotion isn’t proof you’re not good enough.
It’s proof you care enough to serve beyond 
the ones who already found you.

Quiet brilliance doesn’t create impact.
Visible value does.

Self-promotion isn’t arrogance.
It’s leadership.

If you're a coach or consultant struggling to be seen
what's holding you back from showing up?

Follow Mike Hays for more insights on leadership.

Mike  Hays

Messaging Strategist & Ghostwriter for Leaders - I help you turn short stories into trust, influence, and premium clients with my Microstory Journey using the 3-Minute Story Blueprint.

If Your Team Can't Picture Your Strategy…

They'll Never Execute It Properly.

(The visualization gap that kills execution)

Everyone says, "communicate the vision."
But here's what leaders miss:

↳ Abstract strategies create confusion.
↳ Clear mental pictures drive action.

Here's why visualization transforms execution:

1. Cognitive Clarity

↳ Brain processes images 60,000x faster than text
↳ Visual concepts eliminate interpretation gaps
↳ Teams align on the same mental model

2. Emotional Connection

↳ Pictures trigger emotional engagement
↳ People commit to what they can see
↳ Abstract goals feel impossible to reach

3. Decision Framework

↳ Clear vision becomes a filter
↳ Teams self-correct toward the picture
↳ Reduces constant micro-management needs

4. Progress Tracking

↳ Visual goals show measurable progress
↳ Milestones become obvious checkpoints
↳ Momentum builds through visible wins

The Leadership Reality:

↳ Complex strategies overwhelm teams
↳ Clarity beats complexity every time
↳ Simple pictures inspire action

Your team isn't failing execution.
They're failing visualization.

Quick Question:

How do you help your team picture success?

Share your approach below
Follow Mike Hays  for more leadership insights

The Simple Clarity System I Guarded for Years

Now I’m Finally Sharing It

My career has been defined by high-stakes decisions and ticking clocks.

One thing kept me from burning out.

Clarity.

When the pressure hits, your brain 
wants options, not decisions.

More meetings, more messages, 
more browser tabs pretending to be progress.

Early in my career, I played that game.
I was always busy, rarely moving the needle.

Then higher roles raised the stakes even further.

Clients waited on my calls, revenue hinged on my calendar.

That pressure forced a hard truth on me.

Clarity isn't a nice-to-have.
Clarity is survival.

So I built a simple productivity system my career could trust.

Here is the system I use every single day:
→ Decide what you want.
→ Write it down where you will see it.
→ Each morning, choose the ONE task that moves you closest.
→ Block time and do that task before anything else.

No inbox.

No scrolling.

No “quick favors” that hijack your day.

This is how I rebuilt myself, again and again.

I have started companies, sold franchises, and pivoted careers.
Every reinvention began with one clear daily priority.

Most people confuse movement with progress.

Their calendars are full, their results are thin.

You win when your day serves your direction.

Tonight, will you pick tomorrow's one non-negotiable task?

Follow Mike Hays for more leadership advice.

Being a doctor, lawyer, or consultant actually makes you a worse writer.
Not better....Worse.


Because once you're the expert, your job becomes to "know."
↳To explain.
↳To teach.
↳To correct.

But that same expertise, your years of training, the frameworks you’ve mastered can trap you.

You start writing from reflex.
From what you’ve already decided is true.

And in doing so, you kill the very thing that makes writing online worth reading:

Fresh thinking.

Writing that changes minds doesn’t come from what you know
it comes from what you’re willing to re-examine.

The professionals who win online don’t have the most credentials.

↳They’re the ones who reflect publicly.
↳They question assumptions—even their own.
↳They share what others are afraid to say.
↳They think differently, and then they write from that difference.


In the age of AI and content overload, repeating 
the same “expert advice” makes you forgettable.

But when you write from reflection
not repetition you become magnetic.

People follow professionals who make them think.

Not the ones who explain what they already believe.

You’re not paid to write what’s obvious.

You’re remembered for writing what’s original.

Follow Mike Hays for more insights on growth and creativity

There’s no “magic list” of buyer emotions.

But there is a sequence you can’t skip.

Every time someone says yes to your offer
They’ve walked an invisible emotional path to get there.

Not because you convinced them.
Because you reflected what was already true.

They were feeling something.
They saw themselves in your words.
And something clicked.

It didn’t start with logic.
It started with emotion.

Here’s what that emotional journey looks like underneath the surface:

Desire: “This matters to me.”

Resonance: “You get me.”

Belief: “This could actually work.”

Vision: “That’s what my life could look like.”

Momentum: “I don’t want to wait another day.”

That’s the runway.

Not persuasion.
Progression.

If your story, sales page, or pitch isn’t landing
Check the emotional sequence.

Are you rushing to urgency…
Before someone even believes it’s possible?

Are you pitching transformation…
Before they’ve felt seen?

Every skipped emotion is a drop-off point.
Every honored one builds trust.

Don’t just move people.
Walk with them.

Which step in the emotional journey are you most likely to skip?

Follow Mike Hays for more communication strategies

⚠️ MARKETER WARNING:

Side effects include curiosity, skepticism, and clicks..

Use of the Word “New” May Cause Unexpected Spikes in Attention, Consideration, and Click-Through Rates...

…but only if you know what the heck you're doing.

Side Effects of Reckless “New” Usage Include:

❌ Sudden bursts of hype with no substance
❌ Inflated expectations your product can’t deliver
❌ Momentary engagement followed by long-term brand erosion
❌ Confused buyers who think “new” means “unproven”

Use “New” Responsibly:

✅ Only apply to genuinely novel value
✅ Frame as a trigger for exploration, not a crutch for conversion
✅ Combine with context, contrast, or mechanisms
✅ Treat “new” as a frame, not just a feature

Final Note:

“New” is a match.
Strike it right, and it sparks attention.

Strike it wrong, and you’re just burning through trust.

Use with strategic intent or don’t use it at all.

Follow Mike Hays and look for the release of Story Sells Better Newsletter

She made a decision most people never do.

Did the world’s most famous coaches give her the right advice?

She stopped asking if she should leave her marriage.

And asked something much harder.

They still loved each other. That part wasn’t broken.

But the relationship?
It was stuck.

↳ No spark.
↳ No growth.
↳ Just a subtle decay
Like paint fading in slow motion.

She felt invisible in her own life.
Still loyal. Still present.
But disconnected from the woman she used to be.

She didn’t want a divorce.
She wanted her clarity back.

So she took a chance and asked for help 
from two people known for unlocking human potential.

They didn’t give her an answer.
They gave her a challenge:

What if, for the next 90 days, you led with love, not logic?

What if you stopped waiting to feel it, and became it?

Not the kind of love that feels good to give.
The kind that feels good to receive from him.

↳ Appreciation.
↳ Recognition.
↳ Presence.

Not to change him.
Not to fix anything.

But to clean the lens so she could finally 
see what was real and what wasn’t.

Long-term relationships gather dust.
Old resentments. Recycled assumptions.
Little bruises that go unspoken.

That dust clouds everything.

But clarity doesn’t come from distance.
It comes from immersion.

The question wasn’t:
"Do I stay or go?"

It was:
“Can I show up with zero agenda, total presence, 
and serve the love that’s still alive?”

This isn’t just about marriage.
It’s about ANY relationship that matters.

Whether it's a spouse, a business partner, or your own team:

* Don’t wait for change—>lead it.
* Don’t negotiate love—>demonstrate it.
* Don’t react from fear—>respond from alignment.

She didn’t find the answer.
She became the woman who could see it.

And the coaches who guided her through that?

Tony Robbins and Sage Robbins.

Follow Mike Hays for more communication insights.

Show Up as Yourself 

Attracts Better Clients Than Any Polished Brand Voice.

If visibility feels like selling out, this is for you.
I used to hide behind my clients’ success instead of my own.

As a coach, I hated those polished, corporate-sounding posts.

Every draft I wrote sounded like a brand deck, not me.
So I stayed quiet and told myself silence meant integrity.

Meanwhile, louder voices defined what “leadership” looked like in my space.
Then a dream client said something that stopped me cold.
“I keep referring you, but your online presence doesn’t sound like you.”

They weren’t asking for a polished version.

They were begging for the real coach they met in sessions.

That day I made one rule for visibility.
I will show up as the room version, not the stage version.

↳ No perfect brand voice.
↳ Just the questions I actually ask clients, written in my voice.
↳ No glossy carousels.
↳ Just simple stories, real stakes, and clear invitations to reflect.

The result surprised me.

Views were smaller, but the right people started reaching out.
They quoted my messy lines, not the polished phrases.

Because leadership and coaching land when they feel human.

If you fear selling out, try this experiment for thirty days.

↳ Post as if you were recapping a session to a trusted friend.
↳ One story, one client moment, one honest insight each time.
↳ Hit publish before you smooth the interesting edges away.

Visibility is not selling out when your values hold the microphone.
What part of you are you still hiding from clients?

Follow Mike Hays for more visibility advice

Sometimes the most obvious solution is staring us in the face…

But we can't see it because we're looking too hard.

(The hiring mistake that costs us millions)

We overthink everything:
↳ The revolutionary marketing agency
↳ The perfect candidate profile
↳ The groundbreaking strategy

But here's what we miss:

What No One Wants to Admit:
↳ 73% of great hires come from internal referrals
↳ Our best marketing ideas already exist in customer feedback
↳ Winning strategies are often simple executions done consistently

Here's why we overlook the obvious:

1. Complexity Bias

↳ We assume harder = better
↳ Simple solutions feel too easy
↳ We discount what's right there

2. External Validation Trap

↳ We chase shiny new agencies
↳ Ignore our internal expertise
↳ Outsource what we already know

3. Strategy Paralysis

↳ We overcomplicate proven methods
↳ Analysis replaces action
↳ Perfect becomes the enemy of good

The Hidden Power:
Our best people are already here.
Our winning message is in our reviews.
Our strategy worked last quarter.

Quick Question:

What obvious solution have you been overlooking in your business?

⤵️ Share below

How a 30-Second Ordinary Moment

Creates Massive Engagement

Most people think great stories need big drama.
They don’t.

I used to believe “epic” moments made content compelling.
Massive wins. Huge failures. Perfectly crafted narratives.

But the posts that resonated most were never the dramatic ones.
They were the small, honest moments I almost didn’t share.

Like the awkward client call.
Or the lesson learned on a random Tuesday.
Or the quiet realization that changed how I lead my team.

You probably don't want to hear this...
Readers connect far more with relatability than spectacle.

They don’t want heroes.
They want humans.

Big stories entertain.
But simple stories connect.

The imperfect detail is what makes people trust you.
The honest moment is what makes people remember you.
The everyday struggle is what makes people engage with you.

You don’t need a dramatic arc to be compelling.
You need clarity, honesty, and a moment someone can see themselves in.

Small stories build big impact.
What “ordinary” moment taught you something recently?

Follow Mike Hays for more microstory tips

The Day I Realized the Market Wasn’t My Enemy

It Was My Mind.

Most entrepreneurs struggle with the same invisible enemy:
(And it's not competition, market conditions, or lack of resources)

False beliefs about themselves.

I know because I fought these battles:
↳ Wasn't a natural communicator
↳ Struggled with confidence
↳ Came from nothing
↳ Felt "not enough"

Here's what changed everything:

1. Evidence Collection

↳ Document every small win
↳ Track progress, not perfection
↳ Your past proves your capability

2. Reframe Your Origin

↳ "From nothing" = resourceful problem-solver
↳ Scarcity taught you efficiency
↳ Your struggle is your competitive advantage

3. Confidence Through Repetition

↳ Confidence isn't innate, it's built
↳ Every post, every conversation adds up
↳ Action creates belief, not the reverse

4. Communication as a Skill

↳ Nobody is born a great communicator
↳ Clarity beats charisma every time
↳ Practice makes you powerful

The Truth:
Your false beliefs aren't facts.
They're outdated stories you keep telling yourself.

Quick Question:

Which false belief held you back the longest?

⤵️ Share below

Thank you, Holly Moe, for helping me rewrite the story I was telling myself.

If You Think Your Question Isn't Worth Asking…

You're Missing the Biggest Growth Opportunity.

(The mindset shift that changes everything)

Everyone thinks, "My question is too basic."
But here's what I've learned after 15 years:

↳ Your "dumb" question is someone else's breakthrough.
Here's why you should ask anyway:

1. The Expertise Curse

↳ Experts forget beginner struggles
↳ Your question fills knowledge gaps
↳ Creates valuable teaching moments

2. Collective Intelligence

↳ Questions spark deeper discussions
↳ Others have the same uncertainty
↳ Community learning accelerates growth

3. Vulnerability Creates Connection

↳ Admitting confusion builds trust
↳ Shows authentic learning mindset
↳ Attracts genuine helpful responses

4. Question Quality Myth

↳ "Basic" questions often reveal fundamentals
↳ Simple inquiries expose complex issues
↳ Clarity benefits everyone involved

What you should know:
↳ Courage to ask creates breakthrough moments.
↳ Your question validates others' confusion.
↳ Silence keeps everyone stuck.

The smartest people ask the most questions.
Not because they know less.
Because they understand learning never stops.

Quick Question:

What's one question you've been afraid to ask? 
Share below and let's learn together.

Before: Brilliant but Invisible. 

After: Visible, Trusted, In-Demand.

The most talented professionals often remain invisible in their industries.

(And it's not because they lack expertise)

It's because of three limiting beliefs.

But here's what they don't realize about visibility:
It's not about ego.
It's about impact.

The Hidden Barriers:
↳ "My credentials should speak for themselves"
↳ "Good work will naturally be discovered"
↳ "Self-promotion feels arrogant"

Here's why these beliefs sabotage success:

1. The Service Reframe

↳ Sharing knowledge isn't bragging. It's helping
↳ Your expertise solves real problems for people
↳ Staying quiet deprives others of solutions

2. The Credential Trap

↳ Qualifications open doors, but stories close deals
↳ People connect with transformation, not titles
↳ Your experience matters more than your degrees

3. The Discovery Myth

↳ Exceptional work happens behind closed doors
↳ Visibility requires intentional communication
↳ Talent without promotion equals missed opportunities

The Part You Can’t Ignore:
Your expertise sitting in silence helps no one.
Your knowledge locked away serves no purpose.
But your voice sharing wisdom changes everything.

The experts who break through don't abandon humility, they channel it into service.

They understand that hiding their light isn't noble; it's selfish.

Quick Question:

What's one piece of expertise you've been keeping to yourself that could transform someone's business?

Follow Mike Hays for more leadership insights.

Authority isn’t about confidence.

It’s about language.

We often assume people follow the loudest voice in the room.
But in real conversations, especially at work
authority shows up in much quieter ways.

I started paying attention to the people who 
consistently guided discussions.

↳ They weren’t forceful.
↳ They weren’t dramatic.
↳ They simply used intentional phrasing that changed how others responded.

And once you notice it, you can’t unsee it.

Three simple shifts can instantly change 
how people perceive your authority even 
if nothing else about you changes.

1. Use words that imply direction.
Phrases like “I’d like to set the direction here…” 
or “I don’t like the direction this is heading…” 
subconsciously signal leadership.

The moment you reference direction, people look to you to guide it.

2. Frame ideas through experience.
Open with, “In the past, I’ve found…” 
or “In these situations, I prefer…”

These phrases add instant credibility
not because you’re boasting, but because 
you’re grounding your perspective in pattern recognition.

3. Set expectations clearly and calmly.
Statements like “Let’s focus on the issue at hand…” or 
“Here’s what I think we should prioritize…” 

Bring clarity to the conversation.
And clarity creates trust the foundation of authority.

None of this requires a title.
None of this requires dominance.
Authority is simply controlled direction, 
earned clarity, and consistent language.

Credit to Jefferson Fisher, whose ideas inspired this lesson.

If you want more authority, start with your words they shape the room long before your title does.

What phrase do you use to guide conversations?

Follow Mike Hays for more communication insights.

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Simone Severino CSC

Mike Hays

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Performance ScoreSimone Severino CSC's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreMike Hays's LinkedIn Performance

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The Battle

Simone Severino CSC

Mike Hays

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Simone Severino CSC's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreMike Hays's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreSimone Severino CSC's LinkedIn Performance