Leadership • Communication • Accountability
Leadership Communication Keynote Speaker
Words Matter More in the Age of AI
Give leaders language that builds trust, surfaces better information and moves people to action.
Michael McMillan · CXMike
The keynote at a glance
Michael McMillan’s leadership communication keynote explores how everyday words shape trust, accountability and decisions. Words Matter More in the Age of AI helps leaders ask better questions, explain expectations clearly, and keep human judgment visible as technology changes work.
Best for: Leadership conferences, executive retreats, management development programs, HR events and cross-functional teams.
Formats: 30–60 minute keynote • Interactive workshop by arrangement • In person or virtual
The audience challenge
Why this conversation matters
A leader asks, “Any questions?” and hears silence. That silence may mean agreement, confusion or concern. The next sentence can determine whether the team reveals a problem early or carries it into execution. Communication is part of how an organization finds out what is true.
Michael’s perspective
From business experience to useful action
Michael’s established Words Matter theme connects personal responsibility with the language of leadership and customer experience. His background as a TEDx presenter, John Maxwell Certified Speaker and Coach, and business executive grounds the session in the conversations managers face every day.
See Michael in action and explore formatsBeyond inspiration
What your audience will take away
Ask better questions
Replace broad requests for agreement with questions that uncover assumptions, uncertainty and missing context.
Make expectations usable
Name the outcome, owner, deadline and evidence of completion so people know what good looks like.
Coach with clarity
Discuss an observed behavior and its impact, then agree on the next action and follow-up.
Inside the talk
The conversation, step by step
- 01
Hear the sentence beneath the sentence
Explore how wording can invite participation or unintentionally shut it down.
- 02
The sentence before the decision
Use questions to surface assumptions, competing priorities and what would change the team’s view.
- 03
Turn accountability into a conversation
Practice clear requests, constructive feedback and explicit follow-through.
- 04
Keep judgment human
Explain the role of AI assistance while retaining responsibility for decisions and communication.
The emphasis, examples and interaction are tailored during event planning.
Try this with your team
A conversation worth starting
Before your next decision, ask: “What are we assuming?” “What have we not heard?” “What would change our view?” Then name who owns the next step and when the team will review it.
Use this prompt in a planning meeting or post-event discussion. Link to this page when sharing it with colleagues.
Questions, answered
Frequently asked questions
What is a leadership communication keynote?
It is a presentation that helps leaders improve the conversations that shape team behavior. Topics can include listening, clear expectations, feedback, trust and decision-making. Michael connects these skills to practical leadership and customer-facing work.
What is the focus of Words Matter?
Words Matter explores how everyday language affects relationships, accountability and action. This version extends the theme to leadership in an AI-enabled workplace, where people still need clarity about responsibility and judgment.
Is this suitable for emerging leaders and senior executives?
Yes. Emerging leaders can work on expectations and coaching; senior audiences can explore dissent, decision quality and communication across functions. The emphasis can be adapted to the audience.
Does the session include difficult conversations?
The session can include performance feedback, missed expectations and conversations during uncertainty. The focus is clear, respectful language and a specific next step rather than memorized scripts.
Can the talk fit an event that is not about AI?
Yes. The core is human communication. AI examples can be reduced or expanded according to the event theme, while listening, trust and accountability remain central.
How do we book a leadership communication session?
Send your event date, audience profile and the communication challenge you want to address through the booking form. Michael can discuss a keynote, facilitated conversation or workshop format.
Make this relevant to your audience.
Share your event date, audience, format and the action you want people ready to take. We’ll discuss topic fit, availability and speaking fees.
Check Michael’s availability