How to Recover When You Stumble While Speaking

A recent Rear Window item in the AFR noted Ross Du Vernet struggling to find words during a press conference (17 February). The stumble itself is understandable. The more instructive issue is how such moments are handled under pressure.

A brief mental blank can happen to anyone. Fatigue, cognitive overload, or an unexpected question are common triggers, specially in public, high-stakes settings. What matters isn’t the lapse; it’s the recovery.

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How to Get Senior Leaders to Listen

Most people think effective communication is about what you say.

In reality, it is far more about when, how, and to whom you say it.

A useful working definition of effective communication is:

Saying the right thing, to the right person, at the right time, in the right place, in the right way, for the right reason.

You won’t get all six right every time.

But the closer you get, the more likely your message will be heard — and acted upon.

And nowhere does this matter more than when you’re communicating upwards.

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