From a Grammy Award legend ➜

“No one could drop a fur like Aretha Franklin,” comments Washington Post’s Robin Givhan. From performing for the Pope to Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama this Grammy legend sang, strutted, and shared from her soul.

As a leader in your organization, you might be asking, “What can you learn about communication skills from Aretha?!”

Here are three ‘Aretha-isms’ that you can use to communicate with strength to your teams/colleagues/clients.

How you can command R-E-S-P-E-C-T:

🎶 Aretha-ism Speak For Yourself® Tip #1: Be emotive.

• Logic tells, but emotion sells… and Aretha made us feel. While YOU don’t have to be emotional when you communicate, you do need to touch our emotions. How? Through story. Every major company from Nike to Walmart has a “story” to share.
• Action steps for you: Use more stories to make your messages stick.

🎶 Aretha-ism Speak For Yourself® Tip #2: Be natural.

• Aretha Franklin was simply herself. If I could sing, I’d belt out, “Style is being yourself, on purpose!” It doesn’t have the same ring as Carole King’s famous song about being a natural woman, but I share this principle with all of my clients. You have to be “you”. AND you can employ some best communication practices to be “you” and do this “on purpose”.
• Action steps for you: great eye contact, strong posture, clear messaging.

🎶 Aretha-ism Speak For Yourself® Tip #3: Have presence.

• Aretha commands the stage. She walks in and takes over. Apply this idea when you run a meeting or give a presentation.
• No – you don’t have to sing or make a grand entrance.
• Yes – you do need to start with strength.
• Action steps for you: begin on time. Gain our attention in a dynamic way. Have a strong voice.

Coat drop. Mic drop.

Washington Post’s Robin Givhan continues, “When she sang ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’ at the Kennedy Center, she strode on stage in her cocoa-colored lace evening gown and full-length fur coat, clutching a sparkling handbag. … As she reached the song’s crescendo, she stood, took off her coat and let is slide to the floor in a glamorous reveal.”

© 2025 Karen Cortell Reisman, Speak For Yourself® CEO. All rights reserved.

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