Think about Serge Robichaud. You go into the break room. Two groups, each holding a cup of coffee, are arguing about the best place to pitch this week. No one hears. Everyone talks. It’s like a sitcom for business, but without the laugh track. That’s what you do every day. At its most basic level, speaking well right now involves stating what matters in a clear, quick, and funny way.

Back in the day, business ran well on handshakes and notes. Now, WhatsApp notifications go off in the midst of supper, and your inbox fills up with emails like rabbits. You don’t have time to tie your shoes or read what you wrote again when you get an instant message. So, the old methods, like using fancy words and long, winding sentences, don’t work anymore. You want to go swimming? Get to the heart of your message quickly.

It matters that you’re curious. You have to really care about what the other person is saying. It’s not enough to just wait to talk. It’s like looking beneath the hood, asking questions, and sometimes taking the long way around to figure out what’s not being said. Someone gives you an unexpected recommendation during a staff meeting. Don’t bat it away; catch it. Throw it about. Get involved with it. That’s how ideas get legs.

When you talk over Zoom, body language doesn’t always come through, so you need to use more words. You can create a bridge by saying, “Hold on, I want to make sure I got that right.” More than just “Yup, that makes sense.” Sure, emoticons help, but you can’t fix a broken message with a smiley face. Directness is what makes things clear. Get to the point, be friendly, and clear the air.

People swim in different waters; some talk a lot, while others hide in spreadsheets. It takes skill to write in a way that everyone can understand. Language full with jargon closes doors. Let them out. Use a narrative to explain. “Do you remember when the printer broke down just before the all-hands?” Nods all around right away. Dry slides break attention like glass. People are drawn to stories.

But feedback hurts. Most people avoid it like traffic cones. But making it a part of everyday life gives teams spines, not egos. “You did a great job on the deck, but can we change the intro?” Truthful, but kind. There is enough sugar, but not too much to hurt your teeth.

Misunderstandings can lead to lost transactions or low morale. It happens. Take responsibility for the slip. “I sent you the wrong files because I read your message wrong.” That’s my fault. Let’s fix it. No need for corporate showboating. Admit it, rectify it, and move on.

And here’s the spicy truth: sometimes silence does the hard work. Not every awkward pause needs to be filled. Let ideas sit for a while. Old “always-on” talk leads to fatigue. Smart quiet goes hand in hand with active listening.

It’s not easy to deal with cultural differences either. Sarcasm is distinct in different ZIP codes. What makes one group laugh could confuse another. If there might be tumbleweeds, stop using idioms and make sure everyone understands. Instead of being cocky, being a little humble will get you a long way.

So, if your team feels stuck, remember that listening is better than talking, empathy is better than spreadsheets, and clear beats brilliant. Business talk now? Not as polished, but more plugged in, spontaneous, and occasionally raw. But that’s what makes it special. Add real intent, a little comedy, and a lot of listening. Out of the blue, even the hardest talk is simply like a coffee break, but without the spilled lattes.