60-Second Rule Every Leader Should Know

GROWTH PILLAR: Leadership & Ops WHO THIS IS FOR: SMB owners / Solopreneurs / Corporate escapees / Leaders building systems WHAT THEY'LL GAIN: Actionable insights, hard-won lessons, real growth strategies Karen Laos helps leaders stop freezing up and start speaking with real confidence ~ in meetings, on stage, and in tough asks. Karen Laos is a keynote speaker, executive advisor, and TEDx coach who has spent 25+ years helping leaders ~ especially women ~ stop shrinking and start speaking with real clarity. She's worked with NASA, Google, Starbucks, and Hilton, and created a method called the Confidence Cocktail for turning self-doubt into confident communication. In this conversation she covers business communication skills, from reading the room through body language to the power of the pause when you're put on the spot. She breaks down active listening, how long a story should run before you lose people, and how to ask for what you're worth without sounding like you're begging. She's also the author of Trust Your Own Voice. This one's for solopreneurs, leaders, and anyone who wants sharper audience engagement before a big ask or a big stage. Key topics: the 30–60 second story rule, reading a room through body language, the power of the pause, asking for a raise without begging, the 2026 elevator pitch. Connect with Karen: Website · LinkedIn · Instagram · YouTube Grab Karen's free guide, 3 Strategies to Speak Up at Meetings Read the full write-up Browse all episodes — PARTNERS ON THIS EPISODE — Notion Hive ~ pre-roll ~ websites that actually turn traffic into leads Canada Growth Network ~ mid-roll ~ real connections, plus a robust CRM stack, $47 CAD/month Gentry Learning ~ post-roll ~ Fred Crouch's real estate education hub Next Steps Email: [email protected] Join Canada Growth Network ~ $1 CAD first month, $47 CAD/month. Real tools. Real people. Subscribe to the K4B blog Search K4B episodes Register as a K4B guest Visit Knack 4 Business Past episodes (K4B / ETW / CGN) Disclaimer: Everything you heard today is for educational purposes only. It's not professional advice. Before you act on anything — talk to a certified expert in your area. Your accountant. Your lawyer. Someone who knows your situation. We share perspectives. You make the decisions. Want more? Head over to blog.knack4business.com — packed with practical episodes on AI, marketing, leadership, and growth. No fluff. Just the good stuff. Subscribe while you're there. Until next time; keep building. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.