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How to Articulate Yourself Intelligently

How to Articulate Yourself Intelligently

13 comments

·December 8, 2025
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EduardLev

I was interested in reading this article but then I saw a link to the video which was titled something like "How the top 1% communicate". And that sort of communication made me not want to read the article.

I understand the YouTube titles have to be kind of clickbaity but that to me doesn't indicate confidence that I'm going to be reading or watching something worthwhile. Just my two cents.

iamwil

the context for "How the top %1 communicate" here is: "in our current media environment".

I made it all the way down, and I think it's not a bad way to start. If you're allergic to fluff, here's the core separated into three levels of skill (OP's levels, not mine):

Beginner:

    - Problem – state a relatable problem that you’ve observed or experienced before.
    - Amplify – illustrate how that problem leads to a negative outcome if it is not solved.
    - Solution – state the solution to the problem.
Intermediate (kinda like the high school 3-pronged essay):

    - Start with the main idea (the key conclusion or recommendation)
    - Support it with key arguments (usually 3-5 key points)
    - Provide detailed evidence (data, examples, analysis)
Advanced:

    - Problem and amplify – your introduction should state a relatable problem
    - Cross-domain synthesis – note patterns or concepts from your other interests that help support your argument.
    - Unique process or solution – give a list of ideas or steps that best solve the problem you introduced at the beginning, solidifying the transformation.
If I had to sum it up, it's this: beyond knowing your audience, people like stories. Stories are the affordances of information, like the handle of a door. Stories have arcs, and in many domains they go something like this:

  - Here's a problem.
  - Why it matters.
  - Here's addressing your objections.
  - Here's a solution.
All the different levels have an arc. It's not the only arc out there (hero's journey is another one), but this one is pretty typical. All in all, it's pretty basic advice for communication and storytelling. But it's the basics that are so crucial that most of us don't practice. I meet lots of people who don't really have a structure when articulating anything, even topics they know well. A bit of structure, and can probably go a long way to help them in their careers. Anyway, this is a nice reminder. Just ignore the preamble fluff.

HillaryClinton

For me it was his intense facial expression and the finger steeple. It's trying way too hard.

soupfordummies

That’s part of articulating yourself intelligently ;)

kbrkbr

I gave the author a bit more benefit, made it through the part where he describes how some guys impressed him by talking in a way that sounded smart, straight to the interjection that many people subscribed to his whatever in the last years.

Then finally I was convinced enough that this did not sound in any way like what I think intelligently articulated communication sounds, and I also gave up.

l3x4ur1n

I quit reading after he recommended carving out 1-2 hours of writing practice every day.

functionmouse

He goes on to gush about Jordan Peterson and says you should think of your best ideas like tweets.

I'm not saying OP is wrong (I could not tolerate the article enough to finish it) but it's an oddly abrasive way to present a viewpoint.

topaz0

As a start I'd say you should articulate your thoughts or ideas, rather than your self.

lo_zamoyski

Indeed. Someone who is articulate is someone who is able to articulate ideas clearly and with facility. Someone who produces the mere superficial appearance of being articulate is not actually being articulate. He's performing bad theater.

kbrkbr

I had exactly the same impression.

BeetleB

> When I think about it, the best speakers on a podcast are those who don’t answer the question the host asks directly.

Different crowds. I know almost all of them behave this way, and I never liked it. It always comes off as "I don't want to answer the question, let me shift the direction of the conversation."

> If a podcast host were to ask him, “What’s the greatest skill you can learn in today’s world?”

> Hormozi could just say “sales” or “offer creation,” but he understands that there are levels to this, so he would probably respond with his second most viral tweet:

> “The single greatest skill you can develop is the ability to stay in a great mood in the absence of things to be in a great mood about.”

Perfect example of what I'm talking about.

I prefer those who answer the question and elaborate.

I have to say, the whole article was a very painful read. It's very much a PR piece, and the relevant content is both small and dubious.

china33

It’s annoying to me to work with someone that just sounds intelligent and who comes up with a mix of good and bad ideas: the good ideas I have to praise or agree with, and the bad ideas I cannot disagree with because they get offended. I get my fill of this everyday, and I don’t need to watch a video with more of it, or, worse, learn to be like that.

lo_zamoyski

> the good ideas I have to praise or agree with, and the bad ideas I cannot disagree with because they get offended

Why do you feel this need? You don't have to play people's games. Let people get offended. If you have not said anything objectively offensive, then morally, you have nothing to worry about. Any subjective offense taken is their problem and concern, not yours.