SPEAK LIKE A CEO

Change is inevitable, yet 70% of change processes fail. This has become a major issue for many organizations, whose very survival depends on adapting to changing times. 

To find a way forward for both leaders and teams, Oliver Aust is joined by Tamsen Webster, a world-renowned expert in change communication and author of the brand-new book Say What They Can't Unhear. 

Tamsen, who also wrote the excellent book Find Your Red Thread, shares key insights into why people resist change—it’s not the change itself, but the fear of loss that holds them back.

Tamsen explains the critical mistake most leaders make: failing to connect the change to what employees already care about. She dives deep into how to address loss aversion, build belief in the change, and anchor your message in the identity of your team. By aligning with what people already believe, leaders can turn resistance into buy-in.
Tune in to learn how to personalize your communication for different stakeholders, avoid the “dilution effect,” and inspire lasting commitment to change through clear, purposeful narratives.

Do you want to speak with confidence, inspire your team, and accelerate your career? You can now enroll in the Speak Like a CEO Academy and work with Oliver Aust over the next 90 days to become a top 1% communicator. https://speaklikeaceoacademy.com/

Most presentations are instantly forgotten. Or worse, people don’t even pay attention in the first place. 

What makes a presentation stand out? To find out, Oliver Aust talks with Kris Flegg, founder of Presentation Design Co. and author of The Presentation Playbook about the art of capturing audience attention. 

Kris, who transitioned from a “below-average” presenter to working with global giants like McDonald's and Coca-Cola, shares his five key principles for powerful presentations.

Listeners will learn about the mindset shift that separates mediocre presentations from those that stick. 

Kris emphasizes the need for clarity in purpose and structure, explaining why presentations fail when they lack emotional storytelling or don’t start with a clear goal. 

He also discusses the importance of preparation and rehearsal, treating audience engagement as a fair exchange of time and value.

Do you want to speak with confidence, inspire your team, and accelerate your career? You can now join the Speak Like a CEO Academy and work with Oliver over the next 90 days to become a top 1% communicator and transform your career.

https://speaklikeaceoacademy.com/

Do you realize how much your body language influences the way others perceive you as a leader? 

In this week’s episode of Speak Like a CEO, Oliver Aust sits down with Blake Eastman, founder of The Nonverbal Group and School of Cards. As a former professional poker player, Blake mastered reading body language and high-stakes decision-making at the poker table. 

He now applies these skills to help top executives and elite teams enhance their nonverbal communication – even though he is the first to admit that different games are played at the poker table and in the boardroom. 

Blake reveals how the smallest facial expressions, gestures, and tones of voice can either amplify or detract from the message you’re trying to convey. 

Through his research and years of coaching, Blake emphasizes the power of alignment between what you say and how you say it. 

Listeners will learn practical strategies for improving their own nonverbal communication, building trust, and communicating more authentically during virtual meetings. 

By the end of the episode, you’ll walk away with tools to build your leadership presence and communicate with confidence—without saying a word.

Find out more about Blake Eastman at https://www.nonverbalgroup.com/

Do you want to speak with confidence, inspire your team, and accelerate your career? You can now enroll in the Speak Like a CEO Academy and work with Oliver over the next 90 days to become a top 1% communicator.

https://speaklikeaceoacademy.com/

In today’s episode, one of Barack Obama’s longest-serving speechwriters reveals the public speaking lessons that will help you become a more confident and compelling communicator and leader.

For 8 years, Terry Szuplat worked on hundreds of speeches for President Obama. He served as a special assistant to the president, and from 2013 to 2017 he was the deputy director of the White House Speechwriting Office. 

In Terry’s brand new book “Say It Well”, he shares the life-changing lessons he learned from Barack Obama and how he applied these techniques to become a better speaker himself.

We talk about the one time President Obama froze up and lost his train of thought, Terry’s first meeting with the President, and what it was like working closely with one of the most inspiring communicators of our time. 

We also get tactical. Terry shares lots of actionable advice on speaking and presenting that you can apply immediately. 

Enjoy this episode with the man who wrote many speeches that made history: Terry Szuplat. 

“Say It Well” is out now! You can also join Terry on his US book tour: https://globalvoicescommunications.com/say-it-well/

If you want to “present it well”, Oliver has a live Presentation Secrets Workshop coming up, so make sure you are subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter: https://www.eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter

Have you ever left a conversation doubting whether the other person liked you?

You’re not alone—it’s called the Liking Gap.

This week on Speak Like a CEO, Oliver Aust is joined by David Robson, author of the global bestsellers The Laws of Connection, The Expectation Effect, and The Intelligence Trap, and journalist and science writer for the BBC. 

David reveals laws of human connection and the psychology behind the Liking Gap – why we underestimate how much others like us and how it impacts our personal and professional lives.

The conversation unpacks the consequences of the Liking Gap at work, including how it affects feedback, collaboration, and productivity. 

David also shares actionable strategies to overcome this bias, build stronger connections, have better conversations, and improve communication skills.

By the end of this episode, you’ll learn practical steps to overcoming self-doubt so you can build deeper relationships in life and work.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to improve the relationships in their lives and make new ones.

If you're looking to connect with your audience, Oliver has a live Presentation Secrets Workshop coming up, so make sure you are subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter: https://www.eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/

When you manage change within a company, the pressure is on. The future of the business may be at stake. 

So what do you do when your company’s change programs fall flat? 

This week, Oliver Aust is joined by Frank Wolf to discuss the best approaches to leading organizational change and building a strong narrative.

Frank Wolf is the co-founder of Staffbase, a leading employee communication platform used by global brands like Adidas, DHL and Domino’s. 

As one of THE experts in the world on future trends in communications, Frank is the author of The Narrative Age: How Leaders can Inspire Change in a Polarized World.

The secret ingredient to win over your team? Narratives. But you have to know how to use them, how they are different from stories and which mistakes to avoid.  

For instance, when dealing with change, often leaders focus solely on the new narrative, which can leave the team feeling left behind and misunderstood. 

Frank also talks us through the importance of understanding the existing narrative map and ensuring that no employee is left behind.

He shares the key reasons why most change processes fail and how leaders can successfully guide their teams through transformation. 

Tune in to gain valuable knowledge on turning resistance into results.

If you're looking to improve your communication skills, Oliver has a live Presentation Secrets Workshop coming up, so make sure you are subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter: https://www.eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/

Our world is changing fast. So how do we create something unique that will stand the test of time? 

This week, Oliver Aust is joined by Josef Brunner on Speak Like a CEO to discuss what it takes to lead creatively.

As the founder and CEO of NutriUnited and a seasoned entrepreneur with two nine-figure exits, Josef shares why authenticity is so important for businesses. We also discussed how building in public sets NutriUnited apart in the competitive food industry.

Josef explains how NutriUnited’s focus on controlling production and sales channels, rather than relying on traditional marketing tactics, helps avoid common startup pitfalls. 

You will also learn some valuable tips on the importance of vulnerability for leaders when building a supportive team culture. 

Additionally, Josef offers insights from his new book, The Creativity Code, co-authored with Christian Sellmann, providing strategies for finding and using creativity in leadership.

By the end of this episode, you’ll learn how to find and use creativity to your advantage as a leader.

If you're an entrepreneur or a leader seeking to increase your impact, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways. 

Tune in and discover how to build and lead with purpose.

Check out Josef & Christian Sellmanns new book Der Kreativitätscode: Das Phänomen Kreativität verstehen, hinterfragen und für sich steigern.

If you're looking to improve your communication skills, especially in times of change, I have 3 live workshops coming up in the coming weeks, so make sure you are subscribed to the SLACEO newsletter: https://www.eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/

Why is it so hard for disruptive technologies to be accepted?

This week, Oliver is joined by Michael Margolis, author of “Story 10X”, a leading advisor to many of the world’s largest tech companies and one of the world’s preeminent experts in storytelling, to discuss the science of change and the power of narrative. 

Change can often feel like an assault on identity, triggering defensive reactions. Our nervous system's biochemical responses—cortisol, dopamine, and oxytocin—play a key role in this resistance. 

This resistance can be overcome by learning the importance of shifting from a problem-solution framework to a possibility-obstacle approach. 

While stories are individual events with a clear beginning, middle, and end, narratives are overarching concepts that provide a framework for these stories. This understanding helps leaders shape the bigger picture and create shared language and motivation.

Expect to learn how communication can be your superpower amongst the mess of change, and how you can use narrative to provide context and emotion, making your messages more impactful.

If you're looking to improve your communication skills, especially in times of change, I have 3 live workshops coming up in the coming weeks, so make sure you are subscribed to the SLACEO newsletter: https://www.eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/

Julian Treasure’s TED Talk “How to speak so that people want to listen” has been viewed over 100 million times and is the 6th most popular TED talk of all time. 

He shares the four foundations of powerful speaking – easy to memorize thanks to the acronym HAIL – as well as The 7 Deadly Sins of Speaking. 

This short clip gives you the do’s and don’t of speaking on steroids by someone who knows how to captivate an audience.  

Join thousands of leaders and get Speak Like a CEO – the world’s #1 newsletter on leadership communications: https://www.eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/

If you are a scientist, engineer or deal with technical topics, this one's for you. 

This week Oliver is a guest on Mark Bayer’s When Science Speaks podcast to give you the strategies to create clarity out of complexity. 

Mark is one of the world’s preeminent experts on science communication who has helped hundreds of scientists to communicate with impact and clarity. 

During the episode, Oliver highlights common communication challenges and offers strategies for improvement, such as using clear structures, storytelling, and simplifying language. He also emphasizes the importance of understanding one's audience and dealing with linguistic nuances for non-native English speakers.

Try Speak Like a CEO – the world’s #1 newsletter on leadership communications: https://www.eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/