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The Power of Saying Less: Why Fewer Words Can Make You More Influential

Author

Lex Gonzales
April 06, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

MISSION:

Career Ladder helps motivated professionals grow their career and income in half the time by sharing career strategies used by the top 1% professionals.

Ever noticed how the most powerful people in the room aren’t the ones talking the most?

Words lose impact when overused—but when chosen wisely, they command attention, respect, and influence.

In other words, master the art of saying less…

In This Issue

  • Today’s Ladder: Stop talking, start leading.

  • Takeaway: Powerful communication isn’t about more words.

  • Resources: Links to helpful resources.

  • ICYMI: Popular issues you may have missed.

Today’s Ladder:

Stop Talking, Start Leading

The most influential person in the room?

It’s rarely the one who talks the most.

In fact, the more you speak, the less people listen.

The ones who command the most respect know a secret: powerful communication isn’t about saying more—it’s about saying less.

Think about the last meeting you sat through…

  • There was the over-talker, rambling in circles.

  • The interrupter, eager to prove a point.

  • And then, there was that one person—the one who barely spoke but, when they did, everyone stopped to listen.

That’s not luck.

That’s strategy.

They strip out the fluff.

They avoid wordy justifications.

They let their silence build weight.

Instead of talking to fill space, they speak only when it adds value—and it makes people lean in.

Less talking = more impact.

People who master brevity are perceived as more confident, decisive, and authoritative. They don’t need to over-explain, defend, or dominate conversations.

Their words do the work for them.

Why does this matter?

Because in leadership, influence isn’t about volume—it’s about precision. 

The fewer words you use, the more each one counts. And when people know that when you speak, it matters—they’ll start listening before you even open your mouth.

So next time you’re tempted to over-explain?

Pause.

Cut the fluff.

Make it land.

Talk less. Say more.

Takeaway:

Powerful Communication Isn’t About More Words.

The meeting drags on.

Voices overlap, ideas clash.

You watch as coworker #1, the usual loudest voice in the room, talks himself in circles.

People nod, but their eyes glaze over.

Then there’s coworker #2.

She leans forward. “If we focus on fixing X first, Y won’t even be a problem.”

Silence. Heads turn. She doesn’t rush to fill the gap.

She lets it sit.

Then the CEO speaks. “That’s a great point. Let’s move forward with that.”

Meeting over.

Coworker #1 looks stunned.

You take note:

Influence isn’t about saying more. 

It’s about saying the right thing—and letting it land.

Resources:

  • Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less - this book emphasizes the importance of clarity and precision in modern communication formats like emails, presentations, and meetings.

  • Brevity is Confidence - this podcast episode with Mike Allen will teach you transformative communication methods and how brevity is confidence.

  • The Power of Brevity - in this Youtube video, Todd Rogers challenges the traditional notions of taste and style in writing, emphasizing the power of concise and evidence-backed strategies for effective communication in the 21st century.

💵 How to Ask for a Raise (And Actually Get It)

👩🏻‍💻 How to Navigate Office Politics Without Losing Your Integrity

💱 Struggling to Connect with Coworkers? Here’s the Fix

I appreciate your feedback! It will help shape the future issues of CAREER LADDER!

If you’re curious why I want you to succeed in half the time, here’s why.

To your success,

Dr. Lex ✍️

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