In high-stakes conversations, a lot of people default to what sounds "professional" or "correct”, and it is often distilled into corporate jargon — which doesn’t make a lasting impression. You’ve probably heard lines like "I’m a strategic thinker", "I create synergies across functions” or “I communicate to gain buy-in and alignment.”

Snore!

You don’t need to learn TikTok trends or start writing emails like a Gen Zer to lead well. What you do need is curiosity, clarity, and a willingness to meet people where they are. Your best hires, strongest teams, and most resilient culture will likely span generations - and that’s a good thing!

Most of the leaders I work with are incredibly smart and highly experienced. The challenge is that once something becomes second nature to you, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that others are still learning how to think like you do.