Leadership & Ops

60-Second Rule Every Leader Should Know

TEDx coach Karen Laos breaks down the 60-second story rule and the power of the pause ~ practical tools for leaders who freeze up when it counts.

Karen Laos breaks down the 60-second story rule, the power of the pause, and how to ask for more without begging ~ on Knack 4 Business.

Host: Bernie Franzgrote

Karen Laos breaks down the 60-second story rule, the power of the pause, and how to ask for more without begging ~ on Knack 4 Business.

GROWTH CATEGORY: Leadership & Ops

Brought to you by Notion Hive, Canada Growth Network, and Gentry Learning.

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Ever walk out of a meeting replaying everything you should have said? You're not alone ~ and it's fixable. Karen Laos has spent 25 years teaching leaders how to speak with the kind of clarity that actually moves a room, and she says it starts with knowing when to pause.

Karen Laos is a keynote speaker, executive advisor, and TEDx coach who has spent 25+ years helping leaders ~ especially women ~ stop shrinking and start speaking with real clarity. She's worked with NASA, Google, Starbucks, and Hilton, and created a method called the Confidence Cocktail for turning self-doubt into confident communication. In this episode she covers business communication skills, from reading the room through body language to the power of the pause when you're put on the spot. She breaks down active listening, how long a story should run before you lose people, and how to ask for what you're worth without sounding like you're begging. She's also the author of Trust Your Own Voice. This one's for solopreneurs, leaders, and anyone who wants sharper audience engagement before a big ask or a big stage.

Watch the full conversation here

ANSWER CAPSULE:

Many leaders hold back their ideas and get overlooked because they don't know how to communicate with confidence. Karen Laos, a TEDx coach who has worked with NASA and Google, teaches a simple pause-and-prep method. Listeners walk away with a practical way to speak up, negotiate, and hold a room's attention.

WHO THIS IS FOR

SMB owners / Solopreneurs / Corporate escapees / Leaders building systems

KEY LESSONS

The 30–60 second rule. Most stories run too long, and most of us don't realize it. Karen says if your audience waits a full minute before they know why something matters to them, they tune out. Record yourself and watch it back ~ it's uncomfortable, but it's the fastest way to see your real pace.

The power of the pause. A one-to-two second pause feels like forever when you're speaking. To your audience, it's nothing. It buys you time to gather your thoughts and helps you drop the filler words.

Ask without begging. Karen has been on the other side of the ask, as a boss herself. The difference between people who got what they asked for and people who didn't usually came down to prep ~ walking in with a clear reason why, not just a request.

PRACTICAL STEPS

Record yourself talking about your business for 60 seconds this week. Watch it back once, without judging yourself.
Next time someone interrupts you, try an acknowledgment bridge: "That's a great point ~ let me finish this thought, then I want to hear it."
Before you ask for a raise, a new client, or a bigger role, write down the value you bring first. Lead with that.

ABOUT THE GUEST

Karen Laos is the founder of Karen Laos Coaching ~ a TEDx coach and executive advisor who has trained leaders inside NASA, Google, Starbucks, and Hilton. Connect: LinkedIn · Instagram · YouTube

Grab Karen's free guide, 3 Strategies to Speak Up at Meetings

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Partners on this episode

Notion Hive ~ websites built to actually convert leads
Canada Growth Network ~ real connections, plus a robust CRM stack
Gentry Learning ~ Fred Crouch's real estate education hub

FAQ

How long should a business story be? 30 to 60 seconds is the rule of thumb. Karen says most people underestimate how long they've been talking ~ recording yourself is the fastest way to find out.

How do you recover when you go blank on stage? Pause. A simple one-to-two second pause helps you gather your thoughts and shows the audience you're in control, not panicking.

How do you ask for more without sounding pushy? Prep your value case before you make the ask. Walk in with a clear reason why, not just a request.

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