Most people think “better communication” means finding better words. In this episode of Speaking With Authority, Jim Koetting sits down with Christopher Lincoln, founder of NeuroSpeak, to unpack the truth: communication is a neuroscience and nervous system skill before it’s a language skill.

Chris has coached CEOs, executive teams, sales leaders, and highly technical professionals who have the title—but struggle to create clarity, trust, influence, and confidence under pressure. Together, Jim and Chris explore what happens in the brain when stakes are high: cortisol spikes, memory access drops, fear hijacks logic, and even great leaders accidentally create stress in the people they’re trying to help.

Then the conversation turns personal and unforgettable: Chris shares his experience volunteering in Ukraine during the war, serving families while air-raid sirens and missile threats were part of daily life. You’ll hear how calm leadership, empathy, and psychological safety become essential when everything is uncertain.

They also dive into a wild story from Chris’s early career: arriving in the United States to teach music… and discovering he’d be teaching piano (and later drums) with almost no time to prepare. That experience becomes a powerful metaphor for learning fast, managing fear, and performing under pressure—and how music, rhythm, and emotion can shape executive presence and persuasive speaking.

If you’re a CEO, founder, leader, or high-performing professional who needs to speak clearly in high-stakes moments—this episode is for you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. Why neuroscience beats scripts and “perfect wording”
2. How cortisol destroys clarity and memory in tense conversations
3. How leaders accidentally increase stress in meetings (and what to do instead)
4. The “charisma zone”: balancing competence and warmth
5. Why communication is a nervous system issue (breathing, tension, pace)
6. Communication lessons from working in a war zone
7. How music can create emotion and engagement instantly
8. The #1 blind spot leaders have when they watch themselves speak: facial flatlining
9. Chris’s #1 practical tip: stop using PowerPoint as a speaking crutch

Guest:

Christopher Lincoln — Founder, NeuroSpeak (Communication + Neuroscience Coaching)

Host:

Jim Koetting — Trusted Mentor and Coach | Speaking With Authority

If this helped, like, subscribe, and share it with a leader who needs to communicate with more confidence under pressure.