Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

415: Your Brilliance Isn’t Enough When Talking To Power Players Because You’re Missing THIS

Jun 2, 2025
Uncover the hidden emotional barriers that can trigger anxiety instead of trust when presenting to executives. Learn how to shift your pitch to prioritize feelings of safety, making leaders more receptive. Delve into why corporate risk aversion stifles innovation, and discover strategies to address this challenge. The secrets revealed can help you become a trusted voice in the room, ensuring your ideas get the attention they deserve.
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INSIGHT

Executives Prioritize Risk Avoidance

  • Senior executives' key motivator is risk avoidance over pursuing innovation.
  • They worry about catastrophic failure more than the potential million-dollar gains of ideas.
ADVICE

Lead With Safety First

  • Lead presentations by emphasizing the safety and low risk of your proposal before highlighting gains.
  • De-risk concerns first to gain senior leaders' trust and approval.
ANECDOTE

Anecdote: Risk Mitigation Wins Approval

  • Sarah pitched tech improvements but was stalled by her COO.
  • She got greenlight only after presenting a plan to mitigate risks of delay.
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