By: Maria Williams

Brilliant people lose rooms all the time. Not because their content is wrong. Not because they aren’t prepared. But because few can follow what they’re saying.

“They weren’t speaking to be understood,” says Patti Schutte. “They were speaking to be impressive.”

As Founder of Be Brilliant Presentation Group, she works with high-achieving professional engineers, startup founders, and data scientists who know their work inside and out. But when it comes time to present, their language becomes dense, cautious, and overloaded with unnecessary details.

The issue isn’t intelligence. It’s the fear of seeming too simple.

The Insecurity Behind the Complexity

In Patti’s experience, accomplished professionals often don’t realize they are overcomplicating their message. Without an outside perspective, it is easy to fall into patterns such as using jargon, overloading slides, or rushing through key points. 

These patterns usually stem not from arrogance but from a quiet fear: ‘If I’m too clear, will I seem less credible?’

But the irony is that complexity often pushes audiences away. Clarity, not cleverness, and not complexity, is what builds trust.

“Speaking clearly feels vulnerable,” she says. “It means trusting your audience. And it means trusting yourself.”

This insecurity often shows up in subtle ways. A cluttered slide deck. A speaker constantly apologizing for skipping details. A voice that speeds up during key points. Schutte helps clients notice those patterns and understand what’s really behind them. Once the fear is acknowledged, it becomes easier to shift the approach.

Clarity Builds Confidence

One biotech founder came in with a 30-slide investor deck. He spoke quickly, filled every sentence with technical qualifiers, and tried to cover every angle. After a session, he admitted the real fear behind the clutter: “If I make it too simple, they’ll think I don’t know enough.”

The fix wasn’t more data. It was the focus.

They trimmed the deck to 10 slides. They slowed the pace, sharpened the message, and let the strongest ideas captivate the audience. After the pitch, investors didn’t just understand the product; they were energized by it. The founder closed the round two weeks later.

He didn’t change what he was saying. He changed how he delivered it.

The impact extended beyond the pitch. In later team meetings and client conversations, the shift stuck. He was more direct, comfortable, and confident. That’s the ripple effect Schutte aims to attain for her clients, as it strengthens how people show up in every room, not just the big ones.

The Shift That Changes Everything

Most clients come looking for help with communication. What they discover is something deeper. A shift in how they see themselves.

They stop hiding behind big words, stop trying to overexplain, and begin to trust their clarity is enough.

“High achievers are taught to perform,” she says. “But communication isn’t a performance. It’s a relationship.”

This shift from performance to connection is where the power begins.

When people stop trying to impress and start trying to connect, everything changes. Audiences lean in. Teams respond. Investors ask better questions. Leaders become easier to follow.

Strategic Simplicity Is the New Power Move

Clear communication isn’t soft. It’s strategic. It drives decisions, builds momentum, and opens doors.

The goal isn’t to memorize a script. It’s to develop skills that help professionals lead and present with purpose. When speakers feel grounded in what they’re saying and why it matters, they become more than just effective; they become unforgettable.

“People are craving simplicity,” she says. “In a world full of noise, being clear cuts through.”

For those willing to embrace it, clarity becomes more than a skill. It becomes a competitive edge.

Ready to Lead with Clarity?

If you’re tired of hiding behind complexity, it’s time to lead with confidence and impact.

Whether you’re pitching investors, managing a team, or preparing for a high-stakes presentation, simplicity is your advantage. You can simplify without watering down. You can speak in a way that builds trust, drives action, and actually gets remembered.

Visit BeBrilliantPresentationGroup.com to explore coaching built for professionals ready to lead with clarity.