Communications Coach Peter Novak: Clear Language Over Perfect Grammar Drives Global Business Success

In a recent episode of the WRKdefined podcast You Should Know, communications coach Peter Novak of Strictly Speaking Group challenged conventional notions of workplace communication, arguing that clarity and confidence matter more than perfect grammar in today's global business environment. Novak, a former 25-year professor at the University of San Francisco with an MFA in acting and a doctorate in dramaturgy, joined host William to discuss how unconscious bias, phrasal verbs, and monolingual habits can sabotage global teams.

Novak emphasized that inclusive communication is a bottom-line issue rather than a political one. 'The best way to position it is that this is a business issue, that you need your communication to be as clear as possible to everyone, not just to a select few,' he told the host. He highlighted the well-documented 'like-me bias,' which shapes who gets promoted and believed at work, urging leaders to recognize how this bias can disadvantage non-native speakers.

A key point in the conversation was the challenge posed by phrasal verbs—common English constructions like 'take off,' 'take up,' 'take over,' and 'take down'—which can quietly derail non-native English speakers. Novak recommended using AI prompts to swap these for stronger, clearer verbs. He also referenced a McGill University study on foreign accents that reveals insights about trust, credibility, and confident delivery, noting that investor relations teams now run CEO earnings calls through AI to score language choice and tone of voice.

Novak pushed back on the idea that non-native speakers are the ones who must adapt, using a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers analogy: 'Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, only backwards and in high heels.' Non-native colleagues, he argued, are translating, interpreting, and vocabulary-hunting in real time while native speakers barrel ahead.

The episode provided concrete tactics for leading multilingual teams. Novak described building executive 'voiceprints' by feeding hundreds of hours of transcripts into AI so leaders can deliver scripts that sound authentic to them. He shared a 20-question intake he uses to help new executives tell their teams exactly how they want to be communicated with, from pre-reads to agenda formats. He also noted that Latin American teams often operate trilingually in Spanish, Portuguese, and English until a monolingual American enters the room and collapses the exchange back to English.

Novak referenced Yakov Smirnoff on the absurdity of English, contrasted Ernest Hemingway's accessibility with Oscar Wilde writing 'for about 6 people,' and flagged cultural intelligence lessons from his own preparation for business in Tokyo and Dubai. The episode, available now on You Should Know, offers a working playbook for leaders navigating the complexities of global teams.

For Texas businesses expanding internationally, Novak's insights underscore the economic importance of clear communication. As the state continues to attract global talent and companies, adopting these practices can enhance collaboration, reduce misunderstandings, and ultimately drive better business outcomes. The full episode can be found wherever podcasts are heard.