Seven techniques to articulate your thoughts like the top 1%

Executive overview

Copywriter and speaker Joanna Wiebe draws on 20 years of experience to present seven practical communication techniques that help anyone command attention, build trust, and persuade more effectively. The techniques range from body language and active listening to preparation rituals and personal branding — all grounded in the idea that skilled communicators are made, not born.

The central insight is that every conversation is a form of selling, and the people who win are those who make others feel heard, valued, and confident before asking for anything.

Most of the techniques can be tested immediately and compounded over time, turning shy or hesitant communicators into credible, sought-after voices in any room.

Resting rich face: project calm detachment

• Lean back instead of leaning forward when others expect eagerness
• Look into the camera lens on video calls, not at your own thumbnail
• Temple hands under chin; keep eyebrows low and face relaxed
• Use hide-self-view on Zoom to stop self-monitoring during calls
• Warm water keeps your voice clear; microphone placement signals professionalism
• The goal is to radiate "I don't need this" — scarcity signals value

Mirroring: repeat their exact words back

• When someone raises a concern, echo their precise language, not your interpretation
• "So you're worried the timeline is too tight and we'll end up rushing through the important parts — is that right?" beats "So you want more time?"
• Mirroring proves you listened; most people only wait for their turn to talk
• Speaking someone's own language makes your solution feel custom-built for them
• The technique works in sales calls, negotiations, and everyday conversations

Precise speaking: eliminate hedging language

• Phrases like "I think," "maybe," "perhaps," and "it might work" signal you don't believe your own message
• Strong recommendations are specific: "You have to try Bellanotte — the pasta is incredible"
• Ask before every statement: does this belong on the page? If it doesn't advance the argument, cut it
• Physical technique: press tongue to the roof of your mouth; only lower it when you are ready to speak
• That brief pause prevents filler words and forces you to choose your opening word deliberately

Always sell: build people up before asking

• You are always trying to get someone to say yes — for dinner choices, project pitches, and client deals alike
• Before proposing your solution, acknowledge the other person's insight: "That's a really smart observation"
• People make decisions based on how they feel about you, not just the logic of your argument
• Building someone up before making a request works far better than tearing down their idea
• Creating goodwill first means they are already leaning toward yes when you ask

Over-preparation: practice until you stop thinking

• Natural-born speakers are rare; most top communicators over-prepare until fluency feels effortless
• Structure your preparation like a sales page: hook with a problem, agitate it briefly, propose the solution
• Practising out loud — even alone in a mirror — is not embarrassing, it is the method
• When you know exactly what you want to say, you can speak without waiting for permission to talk
• Finish every thought with a strong period even if someone tries to interrupt — preparation makes that possible

Standing out: take up space deliberately

• Wanting to be invisible while also wanting the promotion is a contradiction that never resolves in your favour
• Liquid Death turned ordinary water into an unmissable brand; do the same with your communication
• Wiebe stopped hiding her height on stage; wearing heels and owning physical space improved her confidence
• In big meetings or presentations, pick one imagined friendly person in the audience and speak directly to them
• That mental anchor keeps you from being derailed by the one distracted or hostile face in the room

Becoming an expert: codify and publish your knowledge

• Wiebe made $20,000 in three days by writing and self-publishing a micro ebook series on copywriting
• The act of publishing — even a 20-page guide — changes how you carry yourself and how others perceive you
• You stop hedging when you have externally demonstrated your expertise; conviction replaces apology
• The deliverable does not need to be a traditional book: a workshop recording, a short course, or a published framework all work
• Creating something forces you to organise your thinking; sharing it makes the expertise internal, not just performative

Putting it into practice

• Start with one technique and master it before adding the next
• Resting rich face and mirroring are the easiest to test immediately with zero preparation
• Over-preparation and becoming an expert are longer-term investments with compounding returns
• The common thread across all seven: confidence is a skill built through deliberate practice, not a trait you either have or lack