Communicating with confidence and clarity

Communicating with confidence and clarity

For many of us, communicating confidently to groups of people, or indeed in the media may feel like a skill reserved for extroverts, CEOs, or highly trained professionals. But if you talk to Georgia Nelson, a former journalist and communications professional, anybody can learn how to communicate with confidence, and clarity.

Georgia has spent her career helping people tell their stories: from scientists in Antarctica, to Police executives, and now wāhine in AWDT’s Escalator programme. She joined one of the first ever escalator modules to deliver the media training workshop and has recently returned to facilitate Escalator’s communications and media training module in 2025. Her approach is refreshingly simple: clear and confident communication isn’t about perfection. It’s about self-awareness, practice, and authenticity.

Is this in your wheelhouse?

Georgia’s approach to good communication is just to start with what you know. Most people tend to overthink when preparing to speak to the media or a group of people. Rather than trying to remember messages that don’t sound like you or aren’t an area of your expertise, just start simply and stick to what’s in your wheelhouse:

• Who is your audience?
• What’s your message?
• Why does your audience need to hear this?

If you aren’t sure where to begin Georgia suggests making a list and numbering it 1 to 3. What are three things you’d like to say, and in what order. Or if you are a more visual learner a good place to start is to use a message house, which helps structure messages in a clear and logical way. First, distil your thinking into a single hero statement – the roof, essentially the heart of what you want to get across. From there your messages unfold into supporting statements – the walls, and proof points are your foundation.

Practice, practice, practice – and be kind to yourself

Once you have your message structure – based on your areas of knowledge – it’s all about the delivery.

While some people are born talented communicators, it’s also a skill anyone can build. The key is to practice. Georgia suggests recording yourself on your phone, sharing your thoughts within a small group – like a team meeting, speaking up at the school PTA, or offering to be profiled by a business partner. Each opportunity, no matter how small, is practice.

“You don’t need to be overly charismatic or an extrovert to be a good communicator,” she says. “You just need to be clear, speak in your own voice, and be easy to understand.”

She also notes that imperfection is just part of the process, and to be kind to yourself as you develop your communication style, skills, and confidence. “Nobody expects perfection. What people prefer is real people telling real stories.” She explains that the ‘ums’ and ‘ahs’, the pauses and fillers are all part of how humans talk. The point is not to get too bogged down in trying to eliminate them, but instead to focus on what you do want to say. Clarity and ease in how you communicate will grow over time.

Shine in your lane

In sectors such as food and fibre, there is a tendency for the ‘good talkers’ to get wheeled out for everything. Georgia suggests being selective. Say yes to opportunities that align with your expertise but also don’t be afraid to pass on areas you aren’t qualified to talk about or super familiar with. Communicating in a space you know deeply is where your voice will be most potent. And, where you’ll feel most comfortable.

Communication is a conversation

Perhaps Georgia’s simplest and most powerful piece of advice is this: communication is a conversation. That is, write and speak the same way you would talk to someone. Context is important and make what you say easy for others to hear. But above all, have a go.  Whether it’s a town hall, a board meeting, or the six o’clock news, Georgia’s recommendations are the same:

• Start small
• Keep your messages simple, and stay within your wheelhouse
• Keep true to your own voice
• Confidence is built from practice
• Above all, be kind to yourself!

As Georgia reminds us; “Anyone can be a good communicator. It’s a skill we can all grow. The more you nurture and work at it, the better you’ll get.”