Business Communication Has a Blind Spot—It’s You
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No one tells you this when you get good at what you do, but the better you get, the blurrier your message becomes.
You’re too close to it.
Too fluent in the details.
Too wrapped up in what makes sense to you—instead of what’s landing with them.
You’re not being unclear on purpose.
You’re just human.
And human brains are wired to take shortcuts… even when the stakes are high.
In this episode of The Storyteller’s Edge, we’re unpacking the subtle ways cognitive bias wrecks your clarity—without you even noticing—and sharing the five-step process we use to bias-proof every high-stakes message before it leaves the room.
Why Even Smart Messages Miss
Bias doesn’t look like a red flag.
It shows up in confident-sounding slides, familiar phrases, and “we’ve always said it that way” logic.
Here’s where it sneaks in:
1. Confirmation Bias
You highlight the facts that back your case—and ignore the ones that don’t.
2. Status Quo Bias
You cling to what’s worked in the past, even when the audience has changed.
3. Anchoring Bias
You fixate on your first idea—and tweak it endlessly instead of letting it go.
These are cognitive traps.
But if you don’t build a process to catch them?
They turn into messaging landmines.
The Five Steps to Bias-Proofing Your Message
You don’t need another brainstorm.
You need a pressure test.
Here’s how we guide execs, founders, and marketing teams through messaging that actually holds up:
1. Break Your Own Narrative
Write your pitch. Then attack it.
Ask: What would my harshest critic say? What would make this fall apart in a boardroom?
You’re not being cynical. You’re being strategic.
2. Assign a Contrarian
If everyone’s nodding, no one’s thinking critically.
Put someone in charge of pushing back—or use AI (but tell it to stop being polite).
Bias thrives in comfort. Kill the comfort.
3. Slow Down the Decisions That Matter
That “hell yes” idea? Sleep on it.
Reread it tomorrow.
Clarity lives on Day Two.
4. Use a Repeatable Framework
We don’t use messaging frameworks to sound fancy.
We use them to stop making it up from scratch—and to scale trust across the team.
Start with: Problem → Fix → Why It Matters.
5. Create a Feedback Loop That Isn’t Just Internal
Run your message past real people.
Not your coworkers. Not your Slack group.
Test it with someone who doesn’t already believe in you—and watch what they stumble over.
How to Know If Your Message Is Biased
Before you ship it, ask:
✔ Did I question my assumptions?
✔ Am I focused on what they care about—not just what I care about?
✔ Is this built on structure—or confidence alone?
✔ Who’s reviewed this that doesn’t already think I’m smart?
If you hesitate on any of these, run it through again.
Takeaways
- You can’t see your own bias. That’s why you need a system.
- Smart ideas fail when they aren’t audience-first.
- Your instinct is not the same as insight.
- Frameworks beat freeform. Every time.
- Honest feedback isn’t optional—it’s your best defense.
You might be one great message away from a yes.
Don’t let a silent bias be the thing that costs you the room.
🎧 This episode is your bias-proof blueprint.
Listen in. Save it. Share it with your team before your next big pitch.
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