I was recently reviewing the Jack Welch interview we use at Veritas English, the one that usually makes students lean in because of how he talks. He says a lot in very few words.
His answers are almost always short, often ending in a single sentence. Sometimes he explains, sometimes he just stops.
This is the somehow opposite of what usually happens in meetings and business communication. The main point often comes late, buried under background and context, and sometimes it never arrives at all.
Welch does the opposite. He puts the position, conclusion first. His thinking is finished before he starts talking.
We see the same thing in Steve Jobs’ iPhone presentation. Different situation, different style, but similar structure: One sentence. One idea. A pause. He doesn’t soften the message to make it safer.
This is the important thing we try to get across to our fellows in Veritas English: short, concise sentences don’t make your ideas smaller. Instead, they just make them clearer.
We often use too many words because we haven’t decided on our position yet. This doesn’t mean we need to answer quickly. Taking your time is important. Using a deliberate phrase like “Let me think about that” or “That’s a great question” is far better than speaking before you’re ready.
The goal is to use those pauses to get to your position. Because once you’re there, you can let the sentence be short.
That can be a goal for your next meeting. Don’t worry about sounding “firm”. It’s just about being clear. Decide first, speak second. A strong position doesn’t need extra words, and it shows up in the shape of the sentence.
ベリタスイングリッシュ ｜中上級者向け 短期集中 ビジネス英語 コーチング
Veritas Coach
Lucija Maskaljevic
Originally from a small city in Croatia, Lucija always felt there was more to explore beyond what was familiar. Since graduating from Law school—after which people are usually expected to stay and work in their home country—she started to realize that her passion might not be in legal texts, but in connecting with people from different cultures. That’s when she turned to language learning. What began as a hobby quickly became something much bigger. Every new language she learned became the key that opened doors to new perspectives, opportunities, travel, friendships, and stepping outside of comfort zone.
Coming to Japan, she once again saw how important language is—not only for herself, but for others too. She understood what it felt like to be held back by a language barrier, and also how freeing it is to break through it. That’s when she found Veritas, and its mission really spoke to her. Now, as part of the Veritas team, Lucija helps others build that same confidence through language. She believes that acquiring a language can change your life and open so many doors—and she’s excited to support others on that journey, just like she once started her own.
