Entrepreneurs United

John St.Pierre and Rich Hoffmann

Weekly conversations with Entrepreneurs from across the globe sharing their biggest learnings and experiences with fellow Entrepreneurs.

  1. 5D AGO

    EP 286: Choosing Confidence, A Journey to Communication Mastery w/Karen Laos

    What makes someone sound like a leader, even before they have the title? In this episode of Entrepreneurs United, John St. Pierre and Rich Hoffmann sit down with communication expert Karen Laos to unpack the subtle shifts that instantly elevate your presence, credibility, and influence. Karen shares why the first person to speak is often perceived as the leader, how your “focus face” may be working against you, and the fastest way to eliminate filler words without sounding robotic. You will learn practical frameworks you can apply immediately, including how to stop rambling in real time with one simple phrase, how to make direct asks that actually get results, and how small language tweaks can either shrink your authority or amplify it. Karen also opens up about the pivotal boardroom moment that shaped her mission to help women stop over apologizing, minimizing their expertise, and waiting for permission to speak. If you run meetings, pitch clients, lead teams, negotiate deals, or want to be taken more seriously when you speak, this episode delivers clear, actionable insights you can use today. After listening, ask yourself: What is one communication habit you are ready to change this week? Timestamps00:00 The Power of Speaking First00:41 Introduction to Karen Laos01:05 Understanding Communication Challenges02:03 The Importance of Self-Awareness03:39 Improving Your Presence05:02 Mastering Public Speaking08:54 Bringing Fun into Professionalism14:59 The Confidence Key: Asking for What You Want22:11 Empowering Women Executives24:41 The Power of Speaking First25:29 How to Stop Rambling26:04 The Impact of Language on Mindset27:57 Interpreting Word Choice in Communication29:10 The Role of Gratitude in Communication31:27 Effective Communication Techniques35:02 Coaching on Communication Skills40:59 Final Thoughts and Reflections Connect with Karen LaosLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlaos/Book, Trust Your Own Voice: https://karenlaos.com/book/Free Guide, 9 Words to Avoid: https://karenlaos.com/words-to-avoid/The Confidence Cocktail™ Self-Assessment: https://karenlaos.com/confidence-cocktail-fb/

    48 min
4.9
out of 5
36 Ratings

About

Weekly conversations with Entrepreneurs from across the globe sharing their biggest learnings and experiences with fellow Entrepreneurs.