Then I listened to the playback.
47 filler phrases in 8 minutes. Uptalk on each third sentence. And it took me 2 minutes and 18 seconds to get to my precise level.
I appeared like a junior analyst, not a product chief who’s been doing this since 2007.
Jay right here.
After 17,000+ podcast downloads interviewing product leaders, constructing Product Coalition to 1M+ readers, and working product at corporations throughout 3 continents..,
I nonetheless sabotage myself with my voice.
And primarily based on what I’m listening to from our 11,000+ Substack members, I’m not alone.
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73% of executives lose credibility within the first 30 seconds of talking
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Not due to content material. Due to supply.
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As soon as misplaced, credibility hardly ever recovers in that assembly
38% of your impression is vocal tone
55% is physique language
Solely 7% is precise content material
Translation: Your good technique means nothing in case your voice screams insecurity.
67% of executives say poor communication is their #1 vendor frustration.
Not dangerous merchandise. Not excessive costs. Poor communication.
After that recording incident, I went deep. Psychology analysis. Neuroscience papers. Govt teaching frameworks.
What I found was worse than I assumed.
It’s not simply filler phrases. It’s behavioral patterns hardwired into our brains.
1. The Imposter Voice
Overcompensating with jargon. Talking too quick. Over-explaining every part as a result of deep down, you’re feeling like a fraud.
2. The Peacock Syndrome
Can’t cease speaking about options and accomplishments. Have to show you’re sensible. Lacking each cue that they need you to wrap up.
3. The Approval Seeker
“I believe possibly…” “Sorry, however…” Hedging each assertion. Agreeing too shortly. Your voice actually goes up looking for validation.
4. The Information Dumper
Main with spreadsheets as a substitute of outcomes. Technical accuracy over enterprise impression. Shedding the forest for the timber.
I had three of the 4. Badly.
Look, my philosophy has at all times been: “Simply put your crash helmet on, and get on with it.”
However this time, I wanted information. Actual evaluation. Brutal honesty about the place I stood.
So I created the Govt Voice Evaluation.
It’s the device I want I’d had 5 years in the past. Hell, ten years in the past.
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20-point voice credibility evaluation
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Behavioral sample identification (which saboteur are you?)
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Neuroscience-based evaluation of your stress responses
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Shareable dashboard that exhibits precisely the place you stand
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Profession impression calculator (this one damage)
My Govt Presence Rating: 4.2 / 10
⬛⬛⬛⬛⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
Verdict: “DEVELOPING” (aka: Not Govt Stage)
The Profession Affect Calculator was brutal:
However right here’s what actually bought me:
My Dominant Saboteur: The Peacock Syndrome
Severity: HIGH
Sample: “Have to show value always”
Profession Affect: “Main impediment to development”
In any case these years, I’m nonetheless making an attempt to show I belong within the room.
The evaluation confirmed my “Amygdala Hijack Danger” was EXTREME.
Mainly, once I’m in high-stakes conferences, my primitive mind takes over. Coronary heart fee spikes. Cognitive load hits 85%. And I default to my worst communication habits.
It’s not a personality flaw. It’s biology.
Which truly made me really feel higher. It’s fixable. However provided that you understand what you’re fixing.
Right here’s what I’ve realized managing groups at RAC, FindYourGrind.com, and constructing Product Coalition:
The most effective product managers aren’t at all times those who advance.
It’s those who sound like executives. Who command rooms. Who get 30 seconds into talking and everybody leans in as a substitute of checking their telephones.
“Used the evaluation in my evaluation. Supervisor stated it confirmed extra self-awareness than any PM on the staff. Acquired authorised for govt teaching.” – Senior PM at Microsoft
“My rating was 3.1. Explains why I hold getting handed over. At the very least now I do know what to repair.” – PM at fintech startup
“The behavioral patterns part… I actually noticed myself. Approval Seeker with a aspect of Information Dumper.” – Product Lead
The evaluation generates a dashboard you possibly can truly share. Not some PDF report. An actual, data-rich dashboard that exhibits:
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Your Govt Presence Rating (big, not possible to disregard)
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Credibility Killers Depend (behaviors destroying belief)
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Filler Phrase Index (your verbal crutches uncovered)
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Rambling Rating (how a lot you lose consideration)
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vs Govt Customary (proportion of the place you have to be)
Plus your dominant saboteur, brain-under-pressure evaluation, and people painful profession impression calculations.
It’s designed to make you uncomfortable. As a result of snug individuals don’t change.
There’s a piece the place you file your self for two minutes explaining your product.
You then rely:
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Filler phrases (goal: <3)
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Time to most important level (goal: <15 seconds)
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Uptalk cases (goal: 0)
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“I believe” or “possibly” hedges (goal: 0)
Most individuals can’t end this train. It’s too painful.
Good. Ache creates urgency. Urgency creates change.
You could have three choices:
Choice 1: Hold pretending your communication is okay. Hold questioning why others get promoted. Hold being delegated all the way down to junior stakeholders.
Choice 2: Take the evaluation. Face the brutal reality. Get readability on precisely what’s holding you again.
Choice 3: Take the evaluation AND do one thing about it. (That is the place I’m now.)
Obtain The Govt Voice Evaluation →
Full transparency: After seeing my outcomes, I created ExecReps.ai.
It’s AI-powered voice teaching. Each day exercises. Actual-time suggestions. Protected house to fail and enhance.
Three weeks in, my filler phrases are down 60%. Time to level: beneath 30 seconds constantly.
However the true change? I’m not performing anymore. I’m simply… speaking. Like an govt.
“The scariest second is true earlier than you begin. Whether or not it’s pivoting from design to product, leaving company to start out Product Coalition, or going through the reality about how you actually sound in conferences. Simply put your crash helmet on, and get on with it.”
Obtain the evaluation. Full it actually. Share your rating in our Substack chat.
I’ll go first: 4.2 / 10. Peacock Syndrome. HIGH severity.
Not nice for somebody working a 1M+ reader publication and interviewing C-level executives weekly.
However that’s the purpose. All of us have gaps. The query is: Will you determine yours?
Get Your Govt Voice Evaluation →
From MIT, Stanford, Harvard Enterprise Overview, McKinsey, Psychology In the present day, and Forbes:
Your voice is costing you greater than you assume.
Not simply cash (although the calculator will present you that too).
It’s costing you respect. Authority. Alternatives. The possibility to have your concepts heard on the degree they deserve.
Harvard Enterprise Overview discovered that executives type opinions about you in 7 seconds.
Not 7 minutes. Seconds.
By the point you’ve stated “Thanks for taking the time to satisfy,” they’ve already determined when you’re peer-level or junior.
Look, I nonetheless have a protracted option to go. My Lisbon accent comes out when harassed. I velocity up when enthusiastic about information. I sometimes nonetheless peacock about Product Coalition’s progress.
However now I do know. I can see it. Measure it. Work on it.
That’s all this evaluation does. It holds up a mirror.
A brutal, data-driven, scientifically-backed mirror.
The query is: Are you courageous sufficient to look?
In 2007, I pivoted from design to product as a result of I noticed the place the business was going.
In 2014, I began Product Coalition as a result of I noticed the necessity for an actual PM group.
In 2026, I’m going through my communication gaps as a result of I see what it’s costing me.
The executives who’ll thrive aren’t those with one of the best concepts. They’re those who can talk these concepts at an govt degree.
Which one will you be?
Cheers,
Jay
Founder, Product Coalition
LinkedIn | ProductCoalition.com
P.S. – In the event you’re courageous sufficient to share your rating, publish it in our Substack chat with #VoiceAssessment. I’m genuinely curious how many people are battling the identical saboteurs.
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Excel-based evaluation (works on any system)
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4 complete tabs: Dashboard, Voice Evaluation, Behavioral Patterns, Neuroscience
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Shareable dashboard good for 1:1s together with your supervisor
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Profession Affect Calculator exhibiting actual prices
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Personalised saboteur identification
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Science-backed insights from MIT, Stanford, Harvard
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The Brutal Mirror train (when you dare)
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Free. No strings. Simply reality.
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PMs who hold getting “nice particular person contributor” suggestions
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Anybody informed they want extra “govt presence”
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Leaders whose concepts get stolen by higher communicators
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Anybody who replays conversations pondering “I ought to have stated…”
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PMs able to cease being seen as “tactical” and begin being seen as strategic
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Individuals who assume communication doesn’t matter
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Anybody not prepared for brutal honesty
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PMs who’re pleased staying at their present degree
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Individuals in search of feel-good affirmations
This evaluation will make you uncomfortable. That’s the purpose.
I’m Prepared for the Reality →
In regards to the Analysis: Information compiled from MIT Sloan, Stanford Graduate College of Enterprise, Harvard Enterprise Overview, McKinsey & Firm, Psychology In the present day, Forbes, and insights from Product Coalition’s international group of 1M+ readers and seven,000+ Slack members.
About Jay Stansell: Product chief since 2007. Based Product Coalition in 2014, now the world’s largest impartial PM group. Primarily based in Lisbon, nonetheless engaged on his uptalk.
Privateness: The evaluation is a downloadable Excel file. Your information stays in your system. We don’t observe scores or outcomes except you select to share them in our group.
Ahead this to your product staff. Distress loves firm. Plus, it’s fascinating to see everybody’s dominant saboteur.
