8 Things We Learned About Effective Business Communication

Reflections from Series 3 of BRAVA’s HIGH NOTES podcast: ‘Words at Work’ - exploring voice in the business environment with our eight guests.

‘Authenticity’ might just be the most overused word in business right now. Everyone’s talking about it, being your ‘authentic self,’ ‘showing up authentically’, ‘authentic leadership.’ But what does that really mean when you’re standing in front of a room full of people, leading a team through change, or trying to make your voice heard in the boardroom? That question sits at the heart of effective business communication and voice.

If it’s become a buzzword, that’s because we’ve lost sight of the work behind it. Authenticity isn’t about being unfiltered. It’s about being truthful and sincere, so that people really believe you and feel your message.

That idea came through again and again in conversations for ‘Words at Work’, Series 3 of BRAVA’s HIGH NOTES podcast, exploring how voice, communication and presence shape business today. We heard from world-class speakers, broadcasters, creative leaders, and performance coaches about what makes communication really land.

Here are eight lessons from those conversations that stayed with me:

1. Learn the rules, then break them.

Speechwriter, Simon Lancaster, reminded us that great communication is never formulaic. It’s about emotion, instinct and courage. Emma González’s speech at the 4/20 rally, for instance, broke every rule, and that’s exactly why it worked.

‘If you don’t love your audience,’ Simon said, ‘you can’t expect them to love you in return.’

Authenticity starts with empathy. Listen to the episode here

2. Take up space, unapologetically.

Writer and performer Jane Duffus believes there’s no excuse for boring anyone. Taking up space doesn’t mean dominating a room, it means valuing what you have to say.

She spoke about how women, in particular, often feel the need to shrink themselves or soften their voice. Her message: don’t. Channel emotion into purpose: learn the tech, use the mic, get the training. Your message deserves to be heard clearly. Listen to the episode here

3. Clarity builds resilience.

Colin Burgess, from BAFTA, has seen the power of voice under pressure, from creative crises to high-stakes leadership moments. His advice? When the tension rises, lower your voice.

Clarity, calm and breath signal authority. And as he learned from the Queen Mother (for whom he served as equerry): timing is everything. She made every person in the room feel comfortable and seen, the essence of true leadership. Listen to the episode here

4. Practice until confidence feels natural.

‘Everyone suffers from imposter syndrome,’ said Tricia Duffy. ‘Mastery isn’t about natural talent, it’s about years of practice.’

To find your voice, start small. Talk about what truly matters to you. Care for your vocal health, stay curious, and keep showing up. Confidence isn’t about pretending, it’s about hard work and persistence. Listen to the episode here

5. Simplify to amplify.

Rockford Sansom, who’s coached everyone from UN delegates to TED speakers, put it beautifully: ‘Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.’ Presence, he says, is ‘relaxing what needs to be relaxed and engaging what needs to be engaged.’

Your ‘true’ voice shouldn’t change between the bathroom and the boardroom, it’s the same person, just more focused and skillful. And if you want people to remember what you say, tell stories. Humans are wired for them. Listen to the episode here

6. Speak from the heart, and listen like it matters.

Radio legend Janey Lee Grace learned from Steve Wright that connection trumps everything. His genius was making every listener feel like he was talking just to them. That kind of warmth is no accident, it’s skill.

Janey’s golden rules: don’t be boring, don’t be fake, and never forget to breathe. ‘Own who you are,’ she says, “and the message will flow if it comes from the heart.”

That’s what authenticity really looks like. It’s not performance, it’s alignment. Listen to the episode here

7. Lead with quiet power.

Lynne Franks, PR and fashion trailblazer and  a pioneer of feminine leadership  reminded us that strong communication isn’t always loud.

For many women, especially those who feel unheard later in their careers, power lies in rediscovering and sharing their stories. As Lynne puts it, ‘stand up, be seen, be heard, and speak your truth’, but remember that quiet confidence can be just as commanding as volume.

Her message is a timely one: voice isn’t just about projection, it’s about presence. Listen to the episode here

8. Stay curious, especially when you’re uncertain.

Margaret Heffernan calls curiosity the ultimate communication tool. When we lead or speak from a place of curiosity rather than certainty, we become more human, and far more compelling.

She warns against the trap of ‘parent talk’ and business jargon. Say what you mean. Listen closely. Surprise people. Value their time. ‘Start everything with a memorable story,’ she says, ‘because ideas attach to stories.’ Listen to the episode here

So what does this all mean? 

Every guest, from Lynne Franks to Simon Lancaster, from Janey Lee Grace to Margaret Heffernan, returned to one essential idea: the power of truth.

At its core, effective business communication and voice isn’t a strategy or a performance, it’s sincerity, curiosity and the ability to truly listen.

That’s the foundation of every powerful conversation.

At BRAVA, we help professionals reconnect with that truth. Through voice, communication, and performance coaching that bridges creativity and business. Because when you speak with sincerity and skill, your message doesn’t just land, it really lasts.