An underrated public speaking skill

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Thinking out loud without rambling requires frameworks, judgement and control

One of the biggest media and public speaking risks isn’t just saying the wrong thing, it’s thinking out loud in public without structure. Pressure can destroy clarity.

Good media and communications training doesn’t just focus on messaging and polished presentation – it also dives into mental frameworks for good communication that can easily be used under pressure.

Leaders don’t ramble because they lack confidence. They ramble because they’re thinking in public without structure. Training provides that structure as well as techniques and guardrails to ensure success.

It’s about simple mental frameworks leaders can use under pressure — clear shapes for spontaneous answers, not scripts. When leaders know how to land the point first and then expand, they stay in control of both the message and the moment.

Rambling usually isn’t about content. It’s drift: over-explaining, self-correcting, filling silence. That’s why playback and reflection matter – leaders need to hear and see it to fix it.

Strong training normalizes pauses and pacing. Silence signals judgment, and a good pace signals control. Before any high-stakes conversation, leaders also need clear boundaries around what they will – and won’t – answer, and how to lead the conversation in the direction they want it to go.

The result isn’t just polish – It’s clarity under pressure.

Style Contrast - Learning from two different leaders

By Michael Melling • September 15, 2026
Leadership styles | Michael O'Leary | Tim Cook | Michael Melling | StratOak

Who do you trust?

By Michael Melling • September 15, 2026
Two new reports highlight the latest Canadian media trust scores Two recent reports paint different pictures of the level of trust Canadians place in the news media. Pollara’s 4 th annual “Trust in Media” study says 51% of Canadians tend to trust the media, which is higher than the previous years they’ve done the study – 44% in 2002 and 47% in 1992. Trust levels are highest among seniors, as well as Liberal and NDP voters. Compare this to the 2026 Reuters Institute’s research report that finds only 37% of Canadians have trust in the news overall compared to 55% in 2016. It also found that just 12% of Canadians pay for news online, and that social media and news websites have overtaken traditional news sources. So, what does this mean for your organization? It’s about ensuring you’re trusted, even if the platform you find yourself on isn’t. Talk about trust in media is nothing new, and it’s clear that levels of trust vary depending on the audience. It’s about coaching your leaders to go beyond message control, and to communicate with credibility in a potentially low-trust environment. This means being comfortable and confident in explaining evidence in plain language, acknowledging uncertainty, clearly distinguishing facts from narratives, and correcting misleading assertions while engaging legitimate criticism. Success is more than positive media coverage or message consistency – it’s about creating long-term trust and confidence in your organization, and supporting your leaders and spokespeople in building it.

Three red flags you're not ready for that news interview or big presentation

By Michael Melling • July 6, 2026
Common issues ahead of important communication opportunities:  1. You don’t have a clear key message If someone asks you: “What’s the one thing you want listeners to remember?” and you can’t answer in 15-30 seconds, you’re not ready. 2. You’ve memorized talking points, but can’t explain them naturally If you’re focused on memorizing scripts and key phrases, you’re more likely to struggle if you forget or get taken off track. You need the confidence to trust yourself in the conversation. 3. You don’t have a strategy for responding to tough questions If you’re planning to wing it, that’s a problem. You need to anticipate the tough questions and practice bridging to your key message – naturally and authentically. Strategy and structure are key building blocks of confidence going into any important communication opportunity. You must know the point you want to get across, know how to keep on track, and have the confidence to respond authentically in the moment.