#123 Stop Over-Explaining: The 3 S’s Rule For Projecting Authority - BigDeal Recap

Podcast: BigDeal

Published: 2026-02-24

Duration: 22 min

Summary

In this episode, Cody Sanchez discusses how over-explaining and excessive hedging undermine authority and perceived competence. By adopting a concise and confident communication style, individuals can enhance their credibility and ensure their ideas are heard.

What Happened

Cody Sanchez kicks off the episode by highlighting how even the smartest individuals can lose their audience if they don't communicate effectively. He points out that excessive hedging—using phrases like 'I might be wrong, but'—can lead to being ignored, as listeners tend to dismiss everything said before a 'but.' This linguistic hedging diminishes perceived competence, particularly in high-stakes environments where clarity and confidence are crucial. Sanchez emphasizes that what matters is not the logic of your arguments but how confidently you present them, revealing that speakers who argue confidently are often rated as more credible, even if their arguments are incorrect.

The discussion transitions to the pitfalls of overexplaining, which often signals to the audience that they are either slow or that the speaker lacks confidence in their ideas. Sanchez humorously notes that this tendency is more prevalent among women, who often feel the need to clarify and reiterate their points excessively. However, he stresses that clarity and conciseness are key to maintaining the audience's attention and trust. By delivering core ideas succinctly and allowing for pauses, speakers can let their audience engage with the content without feeling overwhelmed.

To combat these traps, Sanchez provides practical advice: instead of hedging statements with uncertainty, be direct and back up ideas with data. He uses the example of a clear, confident statement versus a hedged one to illustrate how authority can be effectively projected. The episode concludes with a reminder of the importance of simplicity in communication, stating that making complex ideas simple not only aids in understanding but also enhances perceived intelligence and trustworthiness.

Key Insights