Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

464: The Exact Mindset Shifts & Conversation Strategies You Need to Handle Executive Pushback With Confidence

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Sep 24, 2025

Whitney Faires, an internationally recognized executive coach, delves into transforming executive presence. She discusses how over-preparation may actually undermine your confidence in high-stakes meetings. Whitney emphasizes identifying your personal 'power zone' and offers strategies to navigate executive pushback with ease. She provides actionable tips on handling objections, adapting presentations, and maintaining composure when you don’t have all the answers. It's all about betting on yourself and leading from a place of strength!

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ADVICE

Prepare Appendix Exhibits For Objections

Anticipate objections and prepare appendix exhibits to pull live if needed.
Use those exhibits to show depth without cluttering your main presentation.

ADVICE

Do The Meeting Work Before The Meeting

Meet people before big meetings to test and refine your message.
Ask allies to support you in the moment and tailor your pitch based on their feedback.

ADVICE

Ask Executives How They Want The Meeting

Ask senior audiences how they prefer the discussion and offer to start at key slides.
Give them flexibility to focus the meeting so you waste less time and gain credibility.

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Do you ever over-prepare for big meetings, only to freeze when it's time to speak up?

If you're a high performer who suddenly loses confidence in front of senior leaders or high-stakes audiences, you're not alone. This episode unpacks why intelligence and preparation aren't always enough—and how your mindset may be the real barrier to owning the room.

By the end of today’s episode with guest Whitney Faires you’ll know:

🔥Why your over-preparation habit might be sabotaging your leadership presence.

🚀How to identify your personal “power zone” and use it to perform under pressure.

🧲The exact mindset shifts and conversational strategies to handle executive pushback with confidence.

If you're ready to finally show up with clarity and command in your biggest meetings, hit play and learn how to bet on yourself—without needing all the answers.

If you’re feeling stuck — like you might actually be your biggest obstacle — constantly battling the inner critic that drives you to overperform but also second-guess yourself… and yet what you really want is to feel in command, clear, and confident no matter who’s in the room.

That’s why we created the Executive Presence Scorecard — to help high-achieving professionals like you identify your unique “Power Zone” so you can lead from strength instead of fear. It’s not about perfection. It’s about presence. And it starts with awareness…

Email me at hello@speakupwithlaura.com and I will send it to you personally.

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

About our guest:

Whitney Faires is an internationally recognized executive coach, keynote speaker, and leadership advisor with 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Formerly Chief of Staff to the CFO at Intuitive Surgical, she led high-impact organizational health initiatives, launched global leadership development programs, and coached rising professionals into senior roles. Her multifaceted career spans sales, finance, and commercial operations, where she spearheaded the creation of a $2 billion international leasing portfolio.

As the founder of Whitney Faires Coaching, she developed the Courageous Leader Roadmap - a practical approach for leaders to show up authentically, navigate adversity, and drive meaningful results.

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.