Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

471: 3 Things Successful Introverts Do to Get Instant Alignment with C-suite Execs

Oct 10, 2025

Many introverts unknowingly hinder their executive presence in high-stakes meetings. Discover how simple habits can enhance visibility and connection with senior leaders. Learn the power of strategic small talk and prepare insights ahead of time. Uncover the importance of affirming others while adding your own thoughts for instant alignment. Master the art of respectful disagreement and mirror emotional energy to build trust. It's time to shift from being overlooked to being recognized as a strategic player!

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ADVICE

Use Pre-Meeting Minutes Strategically

Stop working until the meeting starts and use the few minutes to make small talk with people you don't know well.
Use those minutes to prepare how you'll add value to the agenda by researching attendees or recent comments.

ADVICE

Speak Up With A Short, Safe Phrase

Don't only speak when called on; tell your boss beforehand you'd like to mention something or speak after your boss using affirm-and-add.
Use a short repeatable line like "One quick thing before we move on" to show engagement and add value.

ADVICE

Say Yes To Strategic Optional Invites

Accept more optional invitations because informal moments create valuable visibility and influence.
Attend selectively but prioritize events where senior leaders might appear, then leave early if needed.

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

Are your quiet habits in meetings silently sabotaging your executive presence and leadership potential?

If you’ve ever walked out of a high-stakes meeting thinking, “I presented well — why didn’t it land?” — you’re not alone. Many high-performing introverts unknowingly block connection and visibility with senior leaders, even while doing great work. This episode unpacks the subtle behaviors and simple strategies that help you shift from being overlooked to being seen as a strategic player.

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

😭 The normal introvert behaviors that close off connection with people you’re just meeting

🧲 How you can align with key stakeholders without groveling or kissing up

✅A phrase you can use repeatedly use to gain alignment and what to do with points of disagreement

Listen now to learn how to master executive alignment and finally get recognized for the leader you already are.

Maybe you’ve been trying to “prove yourself” by working harder, preparing more slides, or staying quiet until called on — but it hasn’t given you the recognition you deserve. Instead, you’re feeling stuck in the grind while others, with less substance, are being seen as leaders. Frustrating, right?

That’s why I designed the Executive Presence scorecard inside my coaching program — to give you proven strategies like affirming and adding insight, matching emotional energy, and using strategic pauses. These simple shifts shortcut your way to executive presence without the years of trial and error.

So if you want to finally know where you stand with the elements of Executive Presence, email me hello@speakupwithlaura.com with “score” in the subject line.

Take note that we release new episodes every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. See more at www.speakupwithlaura.com.

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.