Virtual camera angles and backgrounds matter

To see if Laura’s Executive Presence Mastery System 90-day coaching intensive is right for you, set up a strategy call here.

Are you unknowingly asking the wrong question at work—and getting useless feedback in return?

 In this episode, we explore groundbreaking research on how subtle shifts in how we ask for input—like replacing "feedback" with "advice"—can dramatically improve the quality of what we receive. Plus, we dive into how overlooked communication channels, like audio, might be the key to building stronger relationships in today’s hybrid workplaces.              

By the end of today’s episode you’ll know:

🎯Why "feedback" often fails and what actually leads to more specific, actionable insight

🧲How small tweaks in your communication strategy can preserve relationships and reduce friction—even when rejecting someone's advice

🪝Why audio-only communication may outperform video in conveying warmth and competence—especially in emotionally charged or remote work settings

Hit play to learn how to improve your workplace communication strategy with research-backed tips that can boost performance, trust, and collaboration—fast.

If you’re in a leadership role but you’re not getting the kind of feedback you need to grow—or you’re unsure how your team really perceives you—it’s time to stop guessing. That ambiguity can quietly cap your influence and stall your next-level growth. That’s why we built the Executive Presence Scorecard: to give you a no-fluff, data-backed view of how you’re showing up and what’s next.

📬 Just email me at hello@speakupwithlaura.com and I’ll send it your way. This might be the clarity boost you didn’t know you needed.

For more information visit www.speakupwithlaura.com. Our Speak Up podcast episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday early in the morning

About our guest:

Hayley Blunden, Assistant Professor of Management at American University’s Kogod School of Business, is an expert in workplace interactions, and was just named a 2025 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professor by Poets & Quants. Her research centers on one of the most universally relevant yet underexplored challenges in the modern workplace: how to make our everyday work interactions more effective and productive.

Professor Blunden offers a fresh, research-backed perspective on topics at the heart of the future of work and thriving in today’s evolving professional landscape. Her work explores the dynamics of virtual work, impression management, delegation, advice exchange, and digital communication, offering practical insights for both emerging leaders and seasoned professionals. Her insights have been featured in leading outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Forbes, and Fast Company.

Professor Blunden also brings real-world experience to the table, having worked in consulting, internal strategy, and finance before transitioning into academia. This blend of practice and research allows her to speak to both the theoretical and applied aspects of workplace success.

In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders and executives learn to enhance their influence and confidence, refining their communication style to increase visibility and effectiveness in promotion opportunities. 

By honing communication skills and fostering a trusted advisor mindset, aspiring executives cultivate mastery in public speaking and beat imposter syndrome. Your leadership becomes more strategic and inspiring.