5 common speaking mistakes—and how to fix them

Aside from talking about hamsters and flying cars instead of the real work they were doing, so that they didn’t have to kill me at the end of the day, the training focused on body language and storytelling, as it usually does. The concerns and struggles of this great team of people were the same as any civilian group or business team would be: how to express yourself with clarity, authenticity and persuasiveness.

We all want to communicate effectively, and the difficulties that arise when we try to do so are pretty much the same, whether you’re in the cremation business, or office supplies, or health care, or national security.

Five issues come up with such regularity that if you can conquer them, you’re on the way to becoming a master of the universe-or at least a clear communicator.