Anton Guinea
Entrepreneur, Speaker, bestselling author, and founder of The Guinea Group of Companies. For over 15 years, Anton has helped leaders move their teams to become psychologically safe, physically safe and overall better versions of themselves.
Have you ever finished speaking in a meeting and wondered whether your message actually landed?
I’ve asked myself that question more times than I care to admit.
Over the years, I’ve learnt something simple and uncomfortable: the most influential voices don’t speak louder or longer. They speak with intention.
Intentional communication isn’t about sounding polished. It’s about knowing what you want to shift in the room, choosing words that people can hear, and saying them in a way that builds trust rather than tension.
If you’re leading people right now, your voice matters more than ever. People are watching for clarity. They’re listening for steadiness. And they’re deciding whether it feels safe to speak up around you.
I’ve written before about why this matters in the power of effective speaking and leading your team, and it keeps coming up in every leadership conversation I’m part of.
Why intention matters more than confidence
A lot of leaders think their problem is confidence.
It usually isn’t.
The real issue is a lack of structure. When pressure hits, thoughts spill out in the wrong order. Words get padded. Messages blur. The room drifts.
Intentional leaders do something different. Before they speak, they quietly answer three questions:
- What do I need people to understand?
- What do I need them to do?
- How do I want them to feel?
That’s not theory. That’s how you reduce confusion in real time.
There’s solid research behind this. Teams learn faster and speak up more when leaders create psychological safety through clear, respectful communication. Amy Edmondson’s work on psychological safety explains this link in detail here.
Your leadership voice is felt before it’s judged
An influential leadership voice isn’t just about what you say. It’s about how people experience you when you speak.
Do they relax?
Do they brace?
Do they lean in or shut down?
Those reactions come from patterns. Do you listen properly? Do you interrupt? Do you stay calm when challenged?
This is why listening matters so much. If that’s an area you want to sharpen, start with these five listening skills every leader must master.
Speak with intention by adapting to your audience
One mistake I see often is leaders speaking to the room they wish they had, not the one they’re actually in.
Different audiences need different language. That’s not dilution. It’s respect.
Clear research on audience adaptation shows why messages land better when they’re shaped to the listener. You can explore that thinking here.
Before I speak, I decide what the audience cares about most, where they may push back, and which example fits their world. Anything else gets cut.
That’s how to be an influential communicator in real workplaces.
Join our Presenting with Influence Workshop
Everything above is why we created Presenting with Influence.
Leaders need structure they can rely on when the pressure is on. This workshop helps leaders:
- build confidence through structure
- deliver clear, engaging presentations
- shape thinking and gain buy-in
- adapt messages for different audiences
Explore and register to this workshop. Click here Presenting with Influence.
A simple habit to practise this week
Before your next meeting, write one sentence:
“When I speak today, I want people to…”
Finish it clearly. That one line will anchor your message and stop you drifting.
If you want more support beyond a workshop, you can explore our leadership programs here, or reach out through the contact page to talk through what your leaders need right now.
If you’d like me to work directly with your organisation, you can also book Anton for a session focused on influence, clarity, and safer conversations.
Please click the image below if you’d like to chat about what leadership means to you
If you would like to learn more about Anton or The Guinea Group, please click here to book into Anton’s calendar, to:
UPGRADE your Mindset
UPSKILL your Leadership
UPLIFT your Teams