Here are **communication skills tips from Jordan Peterson**, drawn from his lectures, books (*12 Rules for Life*, *Maps of Meaning*), interviews, and debates. Peterson focuses on **clarity, precision, responsibility, and deep meaning** in communication—especially under pressure. --- ### **1. Be Precise in Your Speech** *(Rule 10)* > “If your words are vague, your problems will be too.” **Tip:** Cut ambiguity. Name the problem, the behavior, the outcome—clearly and specifically. --- ### **2. Tell the Truth—or At Least Don’t Lie** *(Rule 8)* Peterson doesn’t just mean honesty. He means not bending the truth for approval. **Tip:** Speak what you genuinely believe, even if it makes you uncomfortable. It builds long-term trust. --- ### **3. Say What You Mean, Not What You Think People Want to Hear** People pleasing leads to resentment and self-censorship. **Tip:** Prioritize meaning over approval. If you say something, stand by it. --- ### **4. Speak From the Deepest Truth You Can Access** Peterson connects communication to meaning and responsibility. **Tip:** Before speaking, ask yourself: *Is this what I actually think? Or am I just trying to look smart?* --- ### **5. Use Your Own Words, Not Just Buzzwords** He avoids political jargon, marketing fluff, or tribal language. **Tip:** Translate complex ideas into words you truly understand. Don’t hide behind groupthink. --- ### **6. Think While You Talk** Watch Peterson in interviews—he pauses, recalibrates, and adjusts his phrasing in real time. **Tip:** It’s okay to stop and think mid-sentence. That pause often makes your next words land harder. --- ### **7. Explore Ideas Out Loud** Peterson talks through uncertainty. He treats conversation as discovery, not just performance. **Tip:** Say “Let me think about that” or “There might be more to this…” when appropriate. Explore ideas, don’t just defend them. --- ### **8. Define the Terms** He constantly asks: “What do you mean by that?” **Tip:** Clarify definitions. Especially with loaded terms like “fairness,” “justice,” or “success.” --- ### **9. Use Myth, Story, and Archetype to Teach** He explains deep concepts with biblical stories, myths, and everyday experiences. **Tip:** Anchor your message in timeless stories or simple human struggles. --- ### **10. Accept That Conflict is Part of Truth-Seeking** Peterson doesn’t back down when things get tense. **Tip:** Stay calm in disagreement. Don’t fold or flare up. Be clear and firm, not emotional. --- ### **11. Speak as if Your Life Depends on It** Because sometimes it does. **Tip:** Don’t treat your words casually. Speak like they matter. Because they do. --- ### **12. Ask Honest, Hard Questions—and Answer Them Publicly** He often asks: *“What terrible thing am I pretending not to know?”* **Tip:** Use questions to drive clarity. Don’t avoid the uncomfortable ones. --- ### **13. Be the Adult in the Room** When emotions flare, Peterson stays grounded and composed. **Tip:** In tough conversations, slow your breathing. Lower your voice. Speak from your spine. --- ### **14. Don't Oversimplify Complex Topics** He respects nuance and avoids slogans. **Tip:** If the issue is complicated, say so. Don’t dumb it down to score points. --- ### **15. Build Your Vocabulary to Increase Thought Power** He teaches that vocabulary expands thinking and expression. **Tip:** Read more. Write often. Build mental tools to express yourself better. --- ### **16. Speak From Your Own Experience—It’s Harder to Attack** Peterson often says, “Here’s what I’ve observed” instead of giving abstract theories. **Tip:** Share personal observations and real-life examples. They carry more weight than secondhand ideas. --- ### **17. Don’t Bluff** He avoids pretending to know more than he does. **Tip:** Say “I don’t know” when needed. It builds credibility, not weakness. --- ### **18. Separate the Person from the Idea** He often disagrees without attacking the person. **Tip:** Say “I disagree with *that idea*” instead of “You’re wrong.” --- ### **19. Let the Other Person Reveal Their Own Weaknesses** In debates, he asks honest questions and lets faulty logic collapse on its own. **Tip:** Stay calm. Don’t rush to destroy their point—let them do it. --- ### **20. Speak With Structure** Peterson breaks down big answers into step-by-step explanations. **Tip:** Use numbered lists: “There are three problems with that…” Or signal your flow: “First… Second… Finally…” --- ### **21. Don't Speak to Be Liked. Speak to Be Respected.** Peterson doesn’t seek applause or validation. **Tip:** Make clarity and honesty your priority—not people’s reaction. --- ### **22. Know When to Let Silence Work for You** He often pauses and lets the weight of his words hang in the air. **Tip:** Don’t rush to fill silence. It can make people reflect—or squirm. --- ### **23. Use Writing to Sharpen Your Speaking** Peterson believes writing makes your thinking clearer. **Tip:** Write your thoughts. Edit them. Read them out loud. Speaking improves. --- ### **24. Don’t Use Emotions to Win—Use Logic to Earn Respect** He gets emotional *after* making his point—not during. **Tip:** Emotions should *follow* clarity, not replace it. --- ### **25. Speak as a Servant of Truth, Not a Performer of Identity** He treats speech as a duty, not a branding tool. **Tip:** Ask: *Am I saying this because it’s true? Or because it makes me look smart?* --- ### **26. Choose the Right Level of Complexity for the Situation** He adjusts his depth depending on the audience. **Tip:** Read the room. Simplify without dumbing down. Don’t lecture if a sentence will do. --- ### **27. Use Contrast to Frame Ideas** He’ll show extremes to help people see balance: chaos vs. order, tyranny vs. freedom. **Tip:** Frame your point using contrasts. It creates clarity. --- ### **28. Say the Hard Thing When It Needs to Be Said** He’s known for saying what others avoid. **Tip:** If the room is tense, be the one who speaks the truth—calmly, not violently. --- ### **29. Face the Consequences of What You Say** He accepts backlash, controversy, and misunderstanding. **Tip:** Take responsibility for your message. Don’t hide from the ripple. --- ### **30. Teach People How to Think, Not What to Think** He lays out multiple perspectives, then lets the listener decide. **Tip:** Guide the thinking process. Don’t dominate it. --- Want a third round of Peterson? Or move to someone like Hormozi, Jocko, Naval, or Bet-David?