Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

Most leaders think leadership is about strategy and hard work—but what if the real key to building a high performance team lies in something else?As a highly conscientious, high-performing leader, you’re already exceeding expectations—but how do you energize a team that’s burned out or disengaged? This episode dives into a counter intuitive yet effective approach that reignites passion and builds trust while helping you step confidently into the role of a transformational leader.By the end of this totally fun conversation with Joel Zeff (journalist turned comedian) you’ll know: 🎉 Discover the underestimated power of the daily communication with your team that escalates performance🚀 How to create an environment of positive support and opportunity that drives higher team performance without exhausting yourself🧠 Unlock confidence-building tools that help you break free from perfectionism and make authentic connections.Hit play now and learn how to transform your leadership style into one that inspires loyalty, productivity, and fun—your team (and future self) will thank you.If you're tired of being seen as a workhorse instead of a leader and feel misunderstood or invisible to senior executives, it’s not your hard work holding you back—it’s how you're presenting yourself.My 90-Day Executive Presence Mastery System will uncover your blind spots, equip you with the skills and strategies to communicate with confidence, and help you master the four key pillars of leadership that senior executives respect and recognize. Imagine being listened to, valued, and finally getting the promotion you deserve.If you want personalized help to massively elevate your executive communication, our Executive Presence Mastery System, a 90-day intensive coaching program may be your ticket. Click here to set up a short meetup for us to chat about it.About our guest:As a national speaker, work culture expert, and humorist, Joel Zeff captivates audiences with a unique blend of hilarious improvisational comedy and essential ideas on work and life. He is a dynamic speaker, work culture expert, improvisational humorist, and author. He recently updated his book Make the Right Choice: Lead with Passion, Elevate Your Team, and Unleash the Fun at Work, to include everything readers need to increase engagement, communicate more effectively, and create a positive and successful work environment.Since 1997, Joel has inspired audiences from Wells Fargo to Samsung to KPMG and even the IRS. Yes, the IRS. Joel is a masterful keynote speaker and a nationally renowned motivator, humorist, and improvisational actor. His spontaneous humor and vital messages have thrilled audiences for more than 25 years, and he has shared his insight at more than 2,500 events.In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders 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.

First impressions happen in less than a tenth of a second, often driven more by nonverbal cues than words. Discover the powerful role of facial expressions and posture in communication. Learn how being intentional with your presence can make a significant impact, regardless of your personality type. Master attentiveness and voice tone to convey calmness and control. Elevate your executive presence and avoid being overlooked in today’s competitive environment!

Have you ever left a meeting feeling completely defeated because your well-prepared, game-changing idea got shut down by senior leadership? You’re not alone—brilliant professionals face this rejection all the time, and today we’re uncovering exactly why it happens.You put in the effort, crafted a strong case, and addressed a major problem—so why did your idea still get rejected? High-performing leaders often struggle with executive buy-in because they miss three crucial elements that drive top-level decision-making. If you’re tired of being overlooked in high-stakes conversations, this episode will give you the edge you need.By the end of today’s episode you’ll know:✅ The Hidden Executive Secrets meaning executives can’t always share everything they know. ✅ How to frame your solutions using the language of Influence - so you speak  directly to senior leadership’s priorities and decision-making style.✅ Building Trusted Advisor Status and what matters even more than your ideas. Stop wasting your energy on ideas that won’t get traction—hit play now to learn how to make your voice impossible to ignore at the executive level.And if you’re ready to truly transform how you show up in executive leadership conversations, let’s take it further. You can stop being overlooked and start leading with a strong executive presence. If you want personalized help to massively elevate your executive communication, our Executive Presence Mastery System, a 90-day intensive coaching program (learn bespoke skills + strategies) may be your ticket. Click here to set up a short meetup for us to chat about it.In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders 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.

What if the key to leveling up your leadership isn’t your title or experience, but your ability to master the invisible patterns that shape communication and influence?As a highly-conscientious, high-performing leader, you’ve nailed the technical side of your job. But to break through to the next level, you need to stand out as a strategic thinker who connects actions to impact. In this episode, we dive into actionable tools from neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and leadership science to help you lead with clarity, confidence, and influence.In Laura’s conversation with leadership trainer to gaming industry, Andy Coley, you’ll learn:🔑 The keys to unlock the hidden patterns in communication to decode emotions and behaviors ✨ Master a clean feedback framework that builds even stronger teams 🎯How to position yourself as the natural choice for promotionsListen now to learn the leadership skills that will set you apart—and make your promotion feel inevitable.If you're tired of being seen as a workhorse instead of a leader and feel misunderstood or invisible to senior executives, it’s not your hard work or your personality holding you back—it’s how you're presenting yourself.My 90-Day Executive Presence Mastery System will uncover your blind spots, equip you with the tools to communicate with confidence, and help you master the four key pillars of leadership that senior executives respect and recognize. Imagine being listened to, valued, and finally getting the promotion you deserve.If you want personalized help to massively elevate your executive communication, our Executive Presence Mastery System, a 90-day intensive coaching program may be your ticket. Click here to set up a short meetup for us to chat about it.About our guest:Andy Coley, 2023 TEDx Speaker of the Year, has designed a leadership and development training programme specifically for the gaming industry. He understands the specific challenges facing your company as you develop products and the delicate symbiotic relationship between you and players. His book, Leadership Is a Skill: Transform your impact as a leader will help you develop deeper emotional intelligence to lead with authenticity and empathy. He also shares ways to apply Neuro-Linguistic Programming techniques to enhance communication, influence, and team dynamics and master conflict management and support your team through change effectively.In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders 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.

There is one thing you need to focus on when you are criticized in a meeting that will  shift perceptions to YOUR advantage.Let’s unlock the secret that separates extraordinary leaders from the rest.As a high-performing leader, you’ve likely faced criticism or unexpected pushback in crucial meetings. Whether it’s a well-meaning colleague or a skeptical executive, how you respond in these moments can either solidify your reputation as a calm, strategic leader or leave others questioning your readiness for bigger roles. This episode equips you with a powerful technique to transform such moments into opportunities to showcase your executive presence.By the end of this episode you’ll know:🌟 How to exude unshakable confidence and command respect—even when caught off guard.🤝 You can use criticism to build trust and credibility even if your brain freezes.🧠 A tool to gain valuable time to formulate sharp, strategic responses.Press play now to learn how to handle pushback like a pro and transform criticism into a launchpad for your executive brilliance!Ready to stop being overlooked and start leading with presence? If you want personalized help to massively elevate your executive communication, our Executive Presence Mastery System, a 90-day intensive coaching program (learn bespoke skills + strategies) may be your ticket. Click here to set up a short meetup for us to chat about it.In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders 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.

Think saying the wrong thing in a meeting ruins your career? The truth is, it doesn’t have to—what happens next can make you even more influential.If you're a conscientious, high-performing leader, you know how paralyzing the fear of saying the wrong thing can be. But what if the very mistakes you're so afraid of could become your biggest opportunities for growth, respect, and connection? This episode reveals exactly how to shift the narrative and recover like a seasoned pro.In today’s episode, you’ll learn: ✨Two battle-tested angles to take to recover from saying the wrong thing depending on how serious is your blooper.🔥What NOT to do under any circumstances.🔑A perfect comeback for unfair criticism.Hit play now and discover how to make every mistake a stepping stone to greater influence and career success.If you’d like personalized help to elevate your executive communication, my 90-Day Executive Presence Mastery System uncovers blind spots, equips you with communication tools, and positions you as a leader executives respect. Click  here to schedule a quick chat—it might just be the turning point in your career.In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders 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.

What if boosting team performance, innovation and your executive presence depends on this strategy you’ve been ignoring?High-performing leaders often feel the pressure to deliver results while maintaining meaningful relationships. This episode is a must-listen for conscientious leaders who want to align results with relationships and build unstoppable momentum.By the end of this episode you’ll know: 🎯 The kind of leadership communication that sparks creativity and drives your team to outperform. 💡 How to Master Constructive Feedback balancing accountability with humanity to elevate performance reviews. 🌟 Offering Leadership Clarity for decisiveness and transparency while encouraging input from your team.Hit play now to transform your leadership approach with actionable empathy strategies—your team (and your bottom line) will thank you.If you're tired of being seen as a workhorse instead of a leader and feel misunderstood or invisible to senior executives, it’s not your hard work holding you back—it’s how you're presenting yourself.My 90-Day Executive Presence Mastery System will uncover your blind spots, equip you with the tools to communicate with confidence, and help you master the four key pillars of leadership that senior executives respect and recognize.If you want personalized help to massively elevate your executive communication, our Executive Presence Mastery System, a 90-day intensive coaching program may be your ticket. Click here to set up a short meetup for us to chat about it.About our guest:Maria Ross helps companies create strong leaders, thriving cultures, and winning brands. Clients include LogicGate, Alteryx, ContentSquare, Dropbox, Expanse, Splunk, GSK, Wedgewood Pharmacy.Forbes named The Empathy Edge: Harnessing the Value of Compassion as an Engine for Success a 2020 Top 11 book redefining leadership and The CEO Magazine named it a top inspirational business book.Maria wrote an earlier book, Rebooting My Brain, which tells the story of her miraculous brain aneurysm recovery — with tongue-in-cheek humor & levity (yes, really).In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders 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.

If you didn’t go to Harvard business school, you can still fast track your career success using this one executive presence tool. Many high-performing leaders face a common challenge: they excel at execution but struggle to communicate a clear, strategic point of view. Without this skill, it’s impossible to stand out as a true leader or influence decisions at the executive level. This episode dives into how to articulate your vision so you’re seen as the strategic powerhouse your company needs.By the end of this episode you’ll know:💡 Discover the secret framework for crafting a compelling point of view that makes senior leaders stop and listen.🚀 Learn how to overcome fear of pushback and advocate boldly for your ideas—even if you’re not yet a VP.🧠 Get real-world examples from iconic leaders like Jeff Bezos and Safra Catz to inspire your own strategy.Don’t let your hard work go unnoticed—press play now to unlock the communication tool that makes your leadership undeniable!Articulating clear points of view also demonstrates that you are strategic. Strategy is about making deliberate choices to achieve specific goals, often.Ready to stop being overlooked and start leading with presence? If you want personalized help to massively elevate your executive communication, our Executive Presence Mastery System, a 90-day intensive coaching program (learn bespoke skills + strategies) may be your ticket. Click here to set up a short meetup for us to chat about it.In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders 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.

If your audience doesn’t walk away remembering one thing from what you’ve said in that meeting or presentation, you failed. You may have lost credibility as a leader.High-performing leaders like you face razor-thin executive attention spans, and in today’s fast-paced business world, your ability to simplify and deliver a clear message is the ultimate differentiator. But how can you ensure your ideas stick, resonate, and influence senior decision-makers without sounding overly complex or unprepared?By the end of today’s short episode you’ll know:🎯 A game-changing tool to enhance your executive presence instantly, making you appear more confident and decisive.🧠 How to align your ideas with executive priorities so they land with power and purpose.🚀The exact strategies Steve Jobs used to simplify complex ideas into memorable, actionable takeaways. Press play now to master the clarity and conciseness that will make your message unforgettable—and your leadership undeniable.Distilling down what you want to say is extremely challenging for high performers because of what is known as the curse of knowledge. Which is why getting an outsider to help you with key messages is so helpful.That’s why I created an intense 90-Day Executive Presence Mastery System to uncover your blind spots, equip you with the tools to communicate with confidence, and help you master the four key pillars of leadership that senior executives respect and recognize. Imagine being listened to, valued, and finally getting the promotion you deserve.If you want personalized help to massively elevate your executive communication, our Executive Presence Mastery System, a 90-day intensive coaching program may be your ticket. Click here to set up a short meetup for us to chat about it.In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders 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.

🔥 What used to work in leadership doesn’t anymore. Learn what kind of leadership communication actually yields innovative results and growth.As a high-performing leader, you’re constantly juggling responsibilities while navigating rapid change. But what if the key to staying ahead isn’t perfection—but embracing your unique leadership style and leveraging others' strengths? This episode dives into groundbreaking strategies to help you lead with confidence, innovate effectively, and build a team that’s greater than the sum of its parts.By the end of Laura’s amazing conversation with Deborah Ancona, founder of the  MIT Leadership Center, you’ll know:🌟 Learn how a certain leadership style empowers your entire organization to innovate and adapt faster🚀 Uncover your unique leadership signature and use it to inspire confidence🔑 Discover the hidden assets in your “family ghosts” and how to leverage them for greater executive presence🎧 Don’t wait—tune in now to transform the way you lead and secure your place as a forward-thinking, impactful leader!If you're tired of being seen as a workhorse instead of a leader and feel misunderstood or invisible to senior executives, it’s not your hard work holding you back—it’s how you're presenting yourself. This is the year to finally show up with massive executive presence.My 90-Day Executive Presence Mastery System will uncover your blind spots, equip you with the tools to communicate with confidence, and help you master the four key pillars of leadership that senior executives respect and recognize. Imagine being listened to, valued, and finally getting the promotion you deserve.If you want personalized help to massively elevate your executive communication, our Executive Presence Mastery System, a 90-day intensive coaching program may be your ticket. Click here to set up a short meetup for us to chat about it.About our guest:Deborah is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management. She is best known for her pioneering research on high-performing teams, distributed nimble leadership and leadership signatures.Deborah is also the founder of the MIT Leadership Center, which is revolutionizing traditional leadership to solve the toughest problems in the world of management.    Her book X-Teams gives deep insights on how to create innovative, successful teams with examples from Microsoft, Takeda, and the Museum of Modern Art. She also co-founded xLEAD, which develops research-based tools to encourage creative leadership across management levels. Her work bridges theory and practice bringing novel ideas into leadership practice. Deborah has been with MIT for over 20 years and in 2018, was awarded the Jamieson Prize, MIT Sloan’s highest teaching honor. Her widely acclaimed research on how family upbringing affects workplace behavior was published in the Harvard Business Review, titled “Family Ghosts in the Executive Suite”, as was her article on the 4-CAPS+ model, “In Praise of the Incomplete Leader”.  In Speak Up communication and executive presence coaching, high performing leaders 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.