impress new contacts and win clients.
The pressure was high — and time was short.Like many lawyers, his first instinct was to cram more vocabulary.
But here’s the truth: memorising lists of words isn’t what builds trust in a new country.In fact, as I explain in The Secret Frameworks Lawyers Overlook, **vocabulary alone doesn’t win clients — frameworks do**.
❌
Why Vocabulary Alone Doesn’t Work Abroad
Lawyers often believe success depends on knowing the “right” words. But in international business, that’s rarely the case:
- You forget new words under pressure.
- You spend too much energy searching for them.
- You miss the chance to connect naturally.
The result? You sound less confident, not more.
This same pattern shows up in interviews too — see From Nervous to General Counsel in 10 Weeks for how another lawyer overcame this using frameworks.
✅
How Frameworks and Systemised Small Talk Helped
Instead of wasting effort chasing vocabulary, I gave him two things that made all the difference:
- Frameworks — structures that kept his arguments and conversations clear, even when he forgot a word.
- Systemised Small Talk — targeted cheat sheets with phrases designed for networking and client building.
According to
Harvard Business Review, small, structured wins — like predictable communication steps — build confidence faster than unstructured learning.
And MIT Sloan Management Review shows that predictable frameworks improve confidence because the brain recognises safe, repeatable patterns.
This approach saved my client hours of mental effort. He no longer had to “figure out” what to say — he simply applied the system and focused on genuine connection.
These tools work for teams too. As described in
How Firms Build Client Trust with Frameworks, structured communication helps entire firms align their message and win clients together.
⚡
The Outcome
On his trip to the US, he achieved the following:
- ✔ Made a strong impression with new contacts.
- ✔ Cut preparation time dramatically.
- ✔ Built trust faster — and came home with new business.
His edge wasn’t perfect grammar or advanced vocabulary. It was a repeatable system that freed his mind to focus on relationships — **not word-hunting**.
When paired with the insights from The Psychology of Power Words in Law, these frameworks become even more persuasive.
🎯
Why This Matters for Lawyers
Clients don’t hire you for flawless English. They hire you because you sound:
- Confident
- Clear
- Persuasive
Frameworks and systemised **small talk** give you that edge — and they work even if English isn’t your first language.
🚀
Two Ways to Start Using Frameworks Today
🔹 The Confidence Script — €169
Affordable entry point.
- 5 proven frameworks.
- 2 live check-in sessions with me.
🔹 The Clarity Sprint — €249
Serious transformation.
- 10 live coaching sessions.
- Deep practice until frameworks feel natural under pressure.
✅
Final Word
Stop cramming vocabulary.
Start using frameworks and systemised small talk that win clients, save time,
and project confidence wherever you go.
