“Ugh. I wish I’d said that differently.” If you’ve ever muttered this to yourself while walking away from a business meeting or presentation, I feel you. We all have those days.
No one likes the feeling of regret, especially after a high-stakes conversation at work. So, let’s avoid that sensation in the future.
How?
Before delivering any important message, have yourself a little prep party, and invite AMY to join you.
AMY is your planning partner.
She’s the strategic companion who will nudge you to think through what really matters:
Audience: the people or person you need to reach
Message: the substance you need to deliver
You: the unique voice and perspective only you can bring
Remember to bring AMY into your mental preparation, and you’ll stay grounded, focused, and human.
A is for Audience
AMY tells you to (pre)read the room
AMY starts where all good communication begins: with the people you need to reach.
AMY insists that you ask the essential question: What do YOU want your audience to know, feel, and/or do as a result of your communication? Maybe you need approval for a project. Maybe you want your team to feel energized for a tough quarter. Maybe you want a client to trust your recommendation. Whatever the goal, name it.
Many people stop there, but AMY won’t. She’ll push you to consider the other side of that essential question: What end might THEY have in mind? AMY encourages curiosity. She wants you to get into the minds of your audience, so you can anticipate their priorities, pressures, and unspoken concerns.
Together, you and AMY will be ready to meet people where they actually are, not where you wish they were. She’ll remind you to prepare for questions and objections, not fear them. When you walk in ready to address concerns calmly and confidently, AMY will beam with pride. (I mean, she would, if she weren’t imaginary).
AMY also knows distractions are real. She’ll ask: What might pull the audience’s attention away from you? Are you presenting to a tired team? A skeptical client? A hybrid room where half the participants are thumbnail icons? Anticipating those conditions will help you rise to the occasion.
AMY puts audience first. Always.
M is for Message
AMY insists that you say what matters
Once you’ve locked in on your audience and how to involve them, AMY will let you consider the message itself.
As you spool out the many details you could include, she will challenge you with two words: Be concise.
AMY wants you to say the crucial things, not everything. Strategic omission is a skill. What you leave out matters as much as what you choose to share. Give people what they need now and earn their trust so they will come back for more later. When you resist the urge to over-explain, you signal respect for their time and confidence in your expertise.
AMY will beg you to start strong. She knows many communicators warm up for too long—offering context and caveats before getting to the point. She might suggest beginning in the middle or at the end. What’s the clearest, boldest version of your point? Lead with that.
And because she values connection over performance, AMY will always push you toward conversation. She’ll whisper reminders like: Plan questions you want to ask. Plan pauses where you’ll check in. Place space for your audience to respond. And listen as if your career depends on it. (It does.)
Your message isn’t a monologue but a dialogue. With AMY’s guidance, you’ll treat it that way.
Y is for You
AMY wants you to bring your real self into the story
Finally, AMY will urge you to consider an element many people ignore: you. Not your job title or credentials. Not your talking points or PowerPoint slides. YOU.
AMY knows that your presence, tone, energy, and personality will influence an audience as much as—maybe even more than—your content. She wants you to match the room and its energy without losing yourself. Adapt. Don’t contort.
AMY will ask questions like:
- What metaphor or image helps express your unique perspective?
- What part of this idea excites you? How can you convey that enthusiasm?
- What’s something only you would say about your topic?
She’ll also offer personalized advice depending on your communication style:
- Introverts: Find the courage to speak up. You often bring clarity others miss.
- Extroverts: Know when to shut up. Silence is sometimes the most strategic contribution you can make.
With AMY as your partner, you’re not just reciting a message. You’re showing up, for real. Because authenticity isn’t accidental; it’s a choice.
Bring AMY With You
Yes, AMY is a memorable acronym. But please don’t reduce her to that. Think of her as your creative and strategic companion—a mental co-pilot who will help you prepare to communicate with purpose, empathy, and confidence.
Before your next meeting, presentation, or high-stakes conversation, invite AMY over for a prep party. Let her ask you the important questions:
- Who is my audience, really?
- What’s the essential message I need to land?
- How can I bring my genuine self to the moment?
Your thorough and thoughtful answers to AMY’s questions will make your communication clearer, smarter, and more effective.
Your audience will appreciate your effort, and AMY and I will be proud of you.
