Have you ever felt your pulse quicken before presenting to senior leadership?

Like no matter how well you’ve prepared, the moment you’re in that room, every question feels like a test?

In this minisode of The Powerful Introvert Podcast, communications expert Salvatore Manzi and author of Clear and Compelling shares how to shift your mindset from proving yourself to building trust when speaking with executives and boards. You’ll learn how senior leaders actually think, why they challenge your ideas, and how to show up as calm, confident, and credible — even when the pressure is high.

You’ll discover:

• Why questions from executives aren’t a test — they’re a trust check
• How to “serve one plate at a time” instead of overwhelming with data
• The power of pausing to respond (not react)
• How to overcome “delay bias” and think clearly under pressure
• What senior leaders are really looking for in your presence

A minisode is a quick 5-minute recap of the most powerful insights and actionable advice from past episodes — designed to help you lead quietly, confidently, and effectively.

Chapters

00:00 – The mistake most people make when presenting to senior leaders

01:00 – Questions aren’t a test — they’re a trust exercise

02:00 – How to stay calm when challenged

03:00 – The power of pausing before you respond

04:00 – What executives are really evaluating

Clear and Compelling is available now on Amazon.

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