Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

424: The 1 Meeting Behavior Exposing You As Inadequate For a Leadership Promotion & the Magic Communication Trick To Overcome It

Jun 23, 2025

Discover how high-performing introverts can conquer meeting anxiety and speak up with confidence. Learn a four-step framework for handling tough conversations and strategically pushing back when unprepared. The discussion emphasizes the power of constructive disagreement to elevate leadership presence. Plus, master the art of diplomatic communication to clarify points and foster understanding. Transform those missed opportunities into powerful moments that enhance your reputation and help you ascend the leadership ladder.

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INSIGHT

Disagreeing Fuels Innovation

Disagreements are valuable and crucial for innovation, not to be feared.
Avoiding conflict by staying silent holds back leadership growth.

ADVICE

Restate to Show Understanding

Always restate what someone says before disagreeing to show understanding.
Ask for confirmation to ensure you grasp their point and lower their defenses.

ADVICE

Highlight Missing Information

Highlight what's missing in their view to clarify the gap tactfully.
Provide reasons or additional data to support your point without confrontation.

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Have you ever left a meeting kicking yourself for not speaking up — even though you had the perfect response in your head after the fact?

If you’re a high-performing introvert or socially reserved leader, you already know how it feels to freeze when the pressure’s on. This episode breaks down exactly how to respond to unexpected questions or disagree with senior leadership — without triggering drama, fear, or regret.

By the end, you’ll know:

😅Learn the 4-step framework to handle tough conversations without losing your composure

1️⃣The first and only thing to do when you need to push back but feel unprepared

🧩How using this one simple strategy can 10x your confidence and leadership reputation in high-stakes moments.

To chat with Lara to see if her Executive Presence Mastery System is right for you click here.

Tune in now to transform uncomfortable moments into power moves that boost your executive presence.

So if you constantly replay tense conversations in your head because you didn’t say what needed to be said, and you're tired of conflict avoidance keeping you stuck in middle management—but deep down you know you’re capable of more…

That’s exactly why we designed the Executive Presence Mastery System—to help you speak up without sparking drama, so you can finally earn the respect, trust, and leadership clout your ideas deserve.:

If you want personalized guidance to help you build your influence, speak up strategically, and finally get the recognition you deserve, check out the link above in the show notes or go to www.speakupwithlaura.com to book your strategy call.

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

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.