How to Help Your CEO Communicate Like a Real Person (Not a Robot)

Let’s be real: no one wants to listen to a CEO who sounds like they’re reading a manual on how to sound "CEO-ish." The truth is, if your CEO’s speech is full of jargon, long-winded ideas, or anything that remotely resembles a corporate drone, they’re going to lose their audience faster than you can say, “PowerPoint presentation.” So, how do you avoid this catastrophe? Easy: you help your CEO talk like an actual human.

STOP SPEAKING IN CEO-LINGO

Look, your CEO probably knows a lot. Like, really knows a lot. But just because they understand complex terms and internal jargon doesn’t mean the rest of the world does. You know what that leads to? A very confused audience.

So here’s a tip: make sure your CEO is speaking in a language that everyone can understand. And no, not just “easy” language—human language. Make it real, relatable, and simple. The goal is to explain complex things in ways that make sense to everyone, from the intern who just started to the guy in the audience trying to check emails on his phone (don’t worry, we all know that guy).

KEEP IT SHORT, KEEP IT SWEET

If there’s one thing the internet has taught us, it’s that our attention spans are about the size of a fruit fly. People don’t have time to sit through a TED Talk that feels more like a TED Nap - there is a reason each talk is only eighteen minutes long. So, keep it short, keep it snappy, and get to the point.

This doesn’t mean your CEO needs to give a 90-second speech and call it a day. But they should focus on getting the message across in a way that doesn’t make everyone’s eyes glaze over. One idea, one call to action, and no extraneous fluff. Think of it like an elevator pitch—but you know, one that actually makes people want to be in the elevator with you.

HIT ‘EM WITH THE HOOK

Listen, if your CEO doesn’t grab attention within the first 30 seconds, they’re basically invisible. There’s no "warm-up" in speeches, just a straight-up plunge into the deep end. This is the part where your CEO has to say something interesting, personal, or even funny enough that people snap out of their Instagram scroll and actually pay attention.

A little humor or a personal anecdote? Yes, please. Something to make people feel like, "Okay, this is going to be good." The moment your CEO pulls them in with a killer hook, it’s like an open invitation to hang out. They’ll be all in.

MAKE THE PROBLEM SEEM REAL (AND URGENT)

Before you can offer solutions, you’ve gotta make the problem feel real. Your CEO can’t just say, “Here’s a challenge we’re facing.” They’ve gotta make the audience feel that problem. Show the audience why this issue is a big deal—why it matters right now, in this very moment.

Don’t get too dramatic, but make sure the problem is clear. Why should anyone care? What’s at stake? A good way to think about this is to channel your inner superhero origin story: Here’s the problem, and here’s why we need to fix it—stat.

DELIVER A REAL SOLUTION

Once you’ve set up the problem, now you’ve got to deliver a solution. And not just any solution—something tangible and believable. Your CEO has to present something that people can actually wrap their heads around, not some vague “we’ll figure it out” answer. You want the audience to think, "Yes, that’s the thing we’ve been waiting for." It’s the classic underdog story: you’ve set up the villain (problem), and now it’s time for the hero (solution) to save the day.

GIVE ‘EM A REASON TO CARE (AKA A CALL TO ACTION)

The most boring speeches in the world are the ones that don’t inspire anyone to do anything. Your CEO can drop all the knowledge bombs they want, but if they don’t leave the audience with a clear call to action, all that info is just... stuff.

Tell them exactly what they should do with this newfound knowledge. Buy the product? Sign up for something? Send an email? Whatever it is, make it crystal clear. The easier it is for your audience to take action, the more likely they’ll actually do it. After all, people love doing things if you tell them how to do it—and maybe even why they should.

PAINT THE PICTURE OF WHAT’S NEXT

Once you’ve delivered the goods, it’s time to leave the audience with something hopeful. Paint a picture of the future—a future where the problem is solved and everything’s running smoothly. If you’ve really nailed it, this is where the magic happens. The audience will leave thinking, “I want to be part of that solution.” It’s the perfect setup to get them excited about what’s next.

TALK LIKE A HUMAN (FOR REAL)

In the end, it’s all about connecting with your audience. Your CEO might be the head of a huge company, but they’re still a person, and so is everyone else in the room. When you’re writing speeches for your CEO, don’t make them sound like a robot who’s reading from the manual. Help them speak from the heart.

Ready to help your CEO connect with their audience like a pro? At Winsome PR, we help executives refine their messaging, craft speeches that resonate, and build stronger connections. Reach out to our team today to learn how we can help your CEO talk like a human, not a machine.