Why Smart People Miss the Point in Executive Conversations

About this episode

This episode discusses why high-performing women often misinterpret executive questions and how to communicate effectively in leadership settings.

Episode Summary Ever walked out of a meeting feeling like something didn't land — even though you were prepared, accurate, and thorough? In this episode, we break down why high-performing women keep answering the wrong question in executive conversations, and what to do about it. Key Takeaways When leadership asks "What do you think?" they're not asking for more analysis — they're asking for your recommendation. Most professionals hear questions literally, but executives communicate strategically, compressing bigger asks into smaller questions. If you can't hear the translation between what's asked and what's meant, you'll keep over-explaining while someone else gets the opportunity. The pushback, the rephrased questions, the follow-ups — those are redirects, not requests for more information. This isn't about fixing how you sound. It's about learning how leadership actually communicates and what they're listening for. Resources Power and Prime: powerandprime.com Previous Episode: Stop Leading with "We Can't" Next Episode: Rules vs. Tradeoffs

People in this episode

Host: ShAnita Miller

Topics covered

• executive communication
• leadership
• high-performing women
• strategic thinking
• professional development

Keywords

• executive conversations
• communication skills
• leadership questions
• professional women
• strategic communication

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