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The Power of Poise:
Communicating Risk When It Matters Most
and articulate problems like data anomalies,
compliance breaches, process inefficiencies. Yet
when the stakes are high like regulatory scrutiny,
ethical investigations, or board-level exposure, the
instinct to minimize risk in our messaging often
clashes with the need to elevate it for awareness.
This is the risk-confidence paradox: in high-stakes
moments, some professionals retreat into overly
Sandhya Bajaj cautious or overly technical language, fearing
repercussions of “sounding the alarm.” Ironically,
CA, CIA, CS, B.Com this can lead to misunderstandings, delayed
Senior Manager, Internal Audit decisions, or worse reputational fallout that might
Target Corporation India Pvt. Ltd. have been avoided with bolder communication.
sandhya.bajaj@target.com
Confidence is not about exaggeration. It is
about delivering complex risk intelligence with
“Effective communication is 20% what you know composure, clarity, and conviction. It means
and 80% how you feel about what you know.” – Jim being able to clearly explain what’s going on, why
Rohn it matters, and what needs to be done.
In a world where business landscapes evolve High-stake environments can amplify
overnight and high-stakes decisions are routine; communication risks: being misunderstood,
communication isn’t just a soft skill it’s a overlooked, or unintentionally diminished. But
leadership imperative. As a woman with over a those same moments also offer rare opportunities
decade of experience and who has navigated the to lead decisively, influence outcomes, and elevate
dynamic terrains of internal audit, consulting, and our presence. I have learned to reframe these
industry—first in Big 4 firms, and then in complex “risks” into moments of “reach” and here’s how.
corporate environments I have learned that
communicating with clarity and confidence under Own the Room: Preparation Builds
pressure is not just desirable: it’s transformative. Presence
In internal audit and risk advisory, facts are Professionals often feel pressure to over-prepare
sacred, but delivery is everything. We deal in and that’s not a weakness, it’s a superpower.
uncomfortable truths- control failures, process In boardrooms, audit committees, or cross-
breakdowns, compliance gaps and yet, how we functional reviews, walk in armed not just with
convey these findings determines whether we data but with context, clarity, and confidence.
spark improvement or resistance. For many Preparation allows you to:
professionals, especially those just starting out,
the challenge is twofold: overcoming external • Speak with precision, grounded in facts.
perceptions and internal hesitations.
• Anticipate resistance and prepare measured,
confident responses.
The Risk-Confidence Paradox • Use strategic silence to command attention
and control the pace.
Risk professionals are trained to identify
INTERNAL AUDIT TODAY 52
