Are You Communicating… or Just Performing?
What if the biggest barrier to great communication isn’t what you’re saying… but your ability to access your authentic self?
In this episode of Write Your Outcome, Michele Phillips sits down with Ann Keil Dux, communication strategist, former television journalist, and creator of the Go-To You Method™, to explore why even the smartest, most accomplished professionals struggle to communicate under pressure.
Ann explains that communication isn’t simply about choosing the right words. Instead, it’s about accessing your authentic self, especially when the pressure is high.
Throughout the conversation, Michele and Ann discuss how anxiety, self-doubt, and performance pressure often disconnect us from our natural confidence. Rather than trying to sound perfect, Ann encourages leaders to reconnect with themselves first. When you do that, your communication becomes more genuine, more impactful, and more memorable.
Ann also introduces her Go-To You Method™, a practical framework that helps professionals regulate their emotions, strengthen executive presence, and communicate with clarity and confidence. Michele and Ann also explore why storytelling, emotional intelligence, and authenticity matter even more in an age where artificial intelligence can generate information, but only humans can create meaningful connection.
Ann also shares the powerful personal journey that reshaped her career after a cancer diagnosis, revealing how life’s greatest challenges can reconnect us with our purpose and help us lead with greater courage, clarity, and compassion.
Whether you’re leading a meeting, delivering a keynote, interviewing for a new opportunity, or simply trying to communicate more effectively in everyday conversations, this episode will help you move from performing… to truly connecting.
Because writing your outcome begins when you stop trying to sound perfect and start showing up as your authentic self.
About Ann Keil Dux
Ann Keil Dux is a communication strategist, executive coach, and former television journalist who helps leaders communicate with confidence in high-pressure moments. Through her Go-To You Method™, she teaches executives, founders, and professionals how to strengthen their leadership presence, overcome anxiety, and build trust through authentic communication. Her unique approach combines emotional intelligence, storytelling, and practical communication strategies to help leaders access their best selves when it matters most.
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