What does next-level communication really look like—especially for senior executives? It’s not about flashy tactics or learning new tricks. It’s about mastering the fundamentals, like presence, confidence, and clarity, under pressure and at higher stakes. In fact, the higher you rise in leadership, the more essential these core communication skills become. Just like elite athletes return to drills, high-performing leaders return to the basics, but they apply them in more complex, high-visibility environments. This article explores what it takes to communicate with impact at the next level, and how to integrate tools like AI to elevate—not replace—your authentic voice.
Clients often ask me, “What does next-level communication look like?” — especially after a 3- or 6-month executive advisory engagement.
Once you’ve learned the core components—confidence, messaging, and presence—what’s next?
My response is often counterintuitive:
Next-level communication isn’t always about learning new tools. It’s about mastering the fundamentals: under pressure, at higher stakes, and with more visibility.
A 1982 cartoon once read:
“Don’t forget Ginger Rogers did everything that [Fred Astaire] did… backwards and in high heels.”
I use that quote in my 2-day executive communication deep dives. On Day 1, we build the core skills. On Day 2, we learn to apply those skills “backwards and in heels”—in high-stakes moments, when we’re unprepared and caught off guard.
The core skills don’t change, but the context does. And the more senior you become, the more essential those skills are.
Same Skills, Different Stakes
For example: both interns and executives need to build executive presence.
- Interns need to present themselves professionally in the workplace for the first time.
- Executives need to command authority and influence decisions that drive business results.
Similar skills: presence, clarity, confidence. Different stakes.
I came across a study that reinforces this.
In their 2014 Harvard Business Review article, “The Skills Leaders Need at Every Level,” Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman surveyed over 330,000 bosses, peers, and subordinates about the skills that have the greatest impact on leadership success.
Their findings?
“There was remarkable consistency…about which skills were perceived as most important in all four levels of the organization we measured.”
They go on to make an important comparison:
“Athletes continue to practice and develop the same skills throughout their careers.”
I couldn’t agree more—especially as an athlete and a professional musician, in addition to being a professional speaker. You don’t practice scales or drills once and move on. You return to them over and over, because they are the foundation of your performance.
Here’s one of their key insights (emphasis mine):
“As people move up the organization, the fundamental skills they need will not dramatically change. Still, our data further indicate, the relative importance of the…skills does change… With middle managers, problem solving moves ahead of everything else. Then for senior management, communicating powerfully and prolifically moves to the number two spot.”
Want to know which communication skills matter most as you rise into senior leadership?
In this short video, I walk through the three essential skill sets that every leader must master to communicate effectively at the executive level.
Then let’s talk about how you and your team can apply these in 2026—with clarity, confidence, and executive presence.
What This Means for You
As you plan your professional development for 2026, remember:
Communication becomes more important the more senior you become.
And you can’t stop practicing and learning.
Just like you don’t go to the gym once and expect to be “done,” you don’t become an effective communicator after one workshop. You train, you practice, and you adapt as the environment around you evolves.
So as you look to next year:
- Keep practicing the core skills.
- Learn to apply them under pressure and in high-stakes environments.
- Start integrating new technologies like AI to amplify (not replace) your authentic voice.
Let’s Brainstorm
What professional development are you planning for 2026?
What core skills are you doubling down on—and how are you incorporating AI into your leadership toolkit?
Book a 15-minute strategy session before Dec. 19
Let’s brainstorm how I can help you or your team with your communication goals for 2026.
I look forward to speaking with you soon!
Allison