How to answer questions like a pro and boost your executive presence

What if taking 10 seconds to pause at work made you look day dreamy? 🤔😂” During Today's Corporate talk I facilitated on Effective Communication, one participant said something that made the whole room laugh — but also sparked an important discussion. She shared: 👉 “I need time to process information before I respond… but my bosses expect answers immediately. If I pause for 10 seconds, they’ll think I’m daydreaming!” The room chuckled, but behind the humor was a very real challenge. 💡 In many workplaces, speed is valued more than thoughtfulness. We’re conditioned to think that quick = competent. But often, the best communication happens when we pause — to process, to reflect, and to respond with clarity. I reminded the group that taking a short pause is not weakness — it’s strength. Pausing allows you to: ✅Gather your thoughts ✅Prevent reactive or unclear responses ✅Show intention and professionalism It’s not daydreaming. It’s deliberate communication. 🌿 ✨ Imagine if workplaces normalized silence as part of dialogue — instead of rushing to fill every second with words. I’m curious to hear from you: ⚡Do you feel safe taking a pause before answering in meetings? ⚡How would your workplace culture shift if leaders modeled this behavior? #Leadership #CommunicationSkills #CorporateTraining #PsychologicalSafety #WorkplaceCulture

Executive presence isn’t something you “have” or don’t. It’s something you build… Quietly, consistently, and intentionally. Here are 7 habits that compound into more executive presence: 1. Pause = Power • Resist the urge to jump in. • Strategic pauses signal authority and confidence. 2. Audit Your Posture During Transitions • Presence leaks in the in-between moments (times like walking into a room, turning on Zoom, finishing a call). • Are you slouched? Rushed? Distracted? • Train yourself to reset posture during transitions. • Shoulders back. Eyes steady. Breath calm. 3. Speak With Precision • Executive communication is clear, concise, and intentional. • Practice using fewer filler words and shorter sentences. 4. Protect a Thinking Block • High presence = high clarity. • Guard 20 minutes each day for focused, strategic reflection. • No phone, no tabs, no noise. 5. Practice Small Acts of Gravitas • Make eye contact a little longer than normal. • Ask a bold, framing question in a meeting. • Replace qualifying language with conviction. 6. Elevate One Conversation a Day • Executive presence is felt through how people feel after talking to you. • Each day, pick one interaction to elevate: • Frame a messy issue clearly • Offer a thoughtful insight • Affirm someone’s contribution 7. Review the Day Like a Film Reel • Presence sharpens through awareness. • At day’s end, mentally replay 3–5 interactions: • Where did I show up powerfully? • Where did I shrink? • What will I try differently tomorrow? Small habits. Big shift. These aren’t overnight fixes, but done daily, they’ll transform how people perceive and respond to you. → Which one are you starting with today? -- Hi, I’m an executive coach helping leaders get results, lead strategically, and excel in their careers. 🔹 Follow me (LK Pryzant) for more.

✨ 7 Ways to Stay Calm in Tough Conversations (and unlock better results) Let’s be honest—most of us dread tough conversations. But here’s the truth: avoiding them only makes things harder. 📊 Research shows: ▪ 80% of employees avoid important conversations ▪ 50% cut off contact completely ▪ Companies lose millions in productivity as a result (Gallup) The cost? ❌ Tension that never gets resolved ❌ Broken trust between colleagues ❌ Silence when feedback is most needed The good news: Hard conversations aren’t roadblocks. They’re opportunities—for clarity, growth, and stronger relationships. That’s where the CALM Framework comes in: ✅ Clarify the Issue → Focus on facts, not people ✅ Address the Problem → Acknowledge feelings respectfully ✅ Listen Actively → Hear fully, without interrupting ✅ Manage Resolution → Collaborate on solutions And here are 7 proven strategies to stay steady under pressure: ⿡ Breathe & Center 🌬 ⿢ Listen Empathically 👂 ⿣ Focus on the Issue 🎯 ⿤ Be Emotionally Aware 💓 ⿥ Use Collaborative Framing 🤝 ⿦ Stay Curious 🔍 ⿧ Practice Kindful Detachment 🕊 👉 Tough conversations don’t have to drain you. Handled well, they build trust, unlock insights, and spark growth. 💬 What’s YOUR go-to strategy for staying calm under pressure? Drop it in the comments. ♻ Repost this to help someone break free from their inner critic. 🔔 Follow Preetam K. for more insights. #Leadership #Communication #GrowthMindset #ConflictResolution #EmotionalIntelligence #Trust #WorkplaceCulture #Feedback #ProfessionalDevelopment #Mindset

If 95% of your job is sitting in meetings, you’re not leading: you’re being held hostage by your calendar. Truth? It’s rare that I walk out of a meeting thinking, “Wow, that was productive as hell.” But when it happens? It’s electric. Everyone’s fired up. The conversation is tight, efficient, and actually moves us forward. Feels better than a triple-shot latte on a Monday. Here’s the thing: Not everyone learns the same way. If you’ve got a content-heavy training and one person needs time to process before they have questions, forcing them to sit through it live is wasting their time. I’ve learned to ask myself before adding anything to the calendar: Could this be an email? Will the message land if it’s an email? Is there real impact in getting people together for this? I’ve canceled long standing recurring meetings when they turned into “we’re here because we always have been.” My rules for meetings: Land the plane. We don’t need to circle the runway for 45 minutes so everyone feels comfy. Know your learning style and prepare your questions before you walk in. That’s how you make it worth everyone’s time. Remember: Urgent ≠ Important. Treat them differently. And that old-school belief that “you need recurring 1:1s to coach your people”? Not buying it. With a growth mindset, every moment is a coaching moment. I talk to my team daily, in all kinds of touchpoints. I don’t wait for a calendar invite to develop people. Bottom line: Meetings can be powerful. But they’re not the work. They’re the tool to help you do the work. And if they’re not doing that? Cancel the damn meeting. Now I’m curious… what’s the worst meeting you’ve ever sat through? Bonus points if it could’ve been an email. #Leadership #MeetingCulture #TimeManagement #Coaching #WorkplaceProductivity #ModernLeadership #PeopleFirst #LeadWithImpact

“𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝘀𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁.” Most workplace problems start — and end — with a conversation. Ask early, ask clearly, and watch solutions appear. 🤝 Problems at work are rarely just about process or tech — they’re about people, expectations and connection. 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. When we speak up, listen well, and ask for help, we open doors to collaboration, faster resolutions and stronger teams. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 (𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴) 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀:  • Asking reduces uncertainty. If you don’t know, ask — clarity prevents wasted effort and wrong assumptions.  • Asking invites support. No one can help if they don’t know you need it. Asking lets others contribute their strengths.  • Clear communication saves time. A short conversation today prevents lengthy rework tomorrow.  • Empathy builds trust. Listening and responding with empathy makes it easier for people to be honest and constructive.  • Creates psychological safety. Normalizing questions and requests makes the whole team more resilient and creative. 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸:  • Before assuming — ask one clarifying question.  • When stuck, name the roadblock and the help you need.  • Use active listening: repeat back the main point to confirm understanding.  • Offer help proactively when you see a teammate struggling. 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿: 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝗸. 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 — 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘁. 𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸? 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 — 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘂𝗽. #InterpersonalCommunication #Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #Collaboration #AskForHelp #PsychologicalSafety

 3 Mindset Shifts Every Professional Needs Before Speaking This Week I still remember my first Monday meeting in a new role. The room was full of sharp minds, and all I had to do was give a short update. But the moment I stood up, my hands shook, my voice cracked, and my thoughts scattered. What I learned later is this: public speaking isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence. And presence starts with your mindset. Here are 3 powerful mindset shifts to carry with you into every presentation, meeting, or client pitch this week: 🔹 From Fear to Service – Instead of worrying about what others think of you, focus on what value you’re bringing to them. Speaking is service. 🔹 From Perfection to Connection – People don’t remember flawless grammar; they remember how you made them feel. Aim to connect, not to impress. 🔹 From Doubt to Authority – You were invited to speak for a reason. Own your expertise. Speak as the authority in the room, not as an outsider seeking approval. These three shifts transformed how I approached communication—not just on stages, but in Monday meetings, team updates, and leadership conversations. If you want to grow in your career, sharpen your communication skills, and speak with confidence, start with your mindset. Because public speaking is leadership in action. 👉 What mindset do you carry into the week when you speak? #PublicSpeaking #CommunicationSkills #LeadershipDevelopment #MondayMotivation #ConfidenceBuilding #ProfessionalGrowth #CareerDevelopment #SpeakWithConfidence #PersonalBranding #ExecutivePresence

Messy meeting or critical conversation? 👉 20 phrases to flip conflict into connection. You’re in a meeting. Someone shares a point you disagree with. Or a team member argues about something that could derail a conversation. In these moments, what you say next can lead to either conflict or connection. It can make the difference between arguing and moving forward as a team. That’s why great leaders don’t react. They redirect.   Their goal is not to win an argument, but to keep the energy positive, build trust, and get things done. Here are 20 phrases you can use in tense or tricky conversations: 1. 𝐘𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝… 2. 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈’𝐝 𝐚𝐝𝐝 𝐢𝐬… 3. 𝐖𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞… 4. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨… 5. 𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞. 𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐨… 6. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐈’𝐝 𝐩𝐡𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬… 7. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞… 8. 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐳𝐨𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭… 9. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭… 10. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞. 𝐒𝐨 𝐢𝐬… 11. 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐈 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞? 12. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈’𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬… [𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞] 13. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭. 𝐀𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐬… 14. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐈’𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞… 15. 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬. 16. 𝐓𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲, 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫… 17. 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭. 𝐈’𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠… 18. 𝐖𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬. 19. 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 – 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐰𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝…? 20. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩. 💬 Which phrase do you use to keep meetings and conversations on track? ♻️ Repost to help your network and follow me Oliver Aust to become a top 1% communicator.

✨ Monday Morning Meeting ✨ This week’s theme: Communication. Because let’s be honest: 🗣️Communication is the reason for success or failure in just about everything. I shared this with my team: When my 2-year-old wants cookies, I can either say, ❌ “No, you need to eat dinner first.” (cue tantrum), or ✅ “Yes you can have a cookie, but after you eat your dinner.” Same goal. Very different outcome. It’s not just what we say, it’s how we say it. 🔑The same is true with patients, teammates, or anyone we interact with: 🌉 Communication is the bridge between our intentions and our outcomes. We explored 3 types of communication that matter in our work: 1️⃣ Charismatic – dynamic and energizing. 2️⃣ Strategic – thoughtful, proactive, and purposeful. 3️⃣ Authentic – consistent, sincere, and trust-building. And we unpacked the barriers too: 📱 Digital distractions cut communication effectiveness in half. ⚡ Emotional reactions create confusion and drain energy. 🔄 Inconsistency erodes trust and creates friction. The takeaway? 👉 When communication improves, everything improves. Patient care. Team energy. Efficiency. Outcomes. 💡 Question for you: What’s one communication habit that’s made the biggest difference for your team? #Leadership #Communication #Teamwork #Culture #HealthcareLeadership #PatientCare

Happy Monday!! Using small weekly SMART goals is one of the most effective ways to consistently "move the needle" at work—meaning you're making visible progress that adds up to real results. Here's how and why it works, plus a practical breakdown:   🔄 Why Weekly SMART Goals Work Focused Effort: Keeps you from being overwhelmed by long-term goals. Visible Impact: Weekly wins show initiative and competence. Momentum Builder: Small wins create a cycle of motivation and trust. Adaptable: You can refine your goals each week based on priorities and feedback.   ✅ How to Use Weekly SMART Goals to Create Workplace Impact   1. Align Your Goal with a Team or Company Priority (Relevant) Ask yourself: “What is one small thing I can do this week that supports my team’s bigger objectives?” Example: If your team is focused on improving customer service: “This week, I will review and update 5 customer service email templates to reduce response time and improve tone.”   2. Make It Measurable and Time-bound Keep it small enough to complete in 5 working days. Example: “I will schedule and hold 3 feedback conversations with junior team members by Friday to support their development and build leadership experience.”   3. Choose Goals That Accumulate Each week’s goal should build on the last. This creates compound value. Example sequence for improving internal communication: Week 1: Draft and send out a team survey to identify communication pain points. Week 2: Analyze results and summarize 3 key issues. Week 3: Propose a new meeting structure based on feedback. Week 4: Pilot the structure and gather reactions.   4. Share Your Goals (and Wins) Communicate your weekly goals and results with your manager or team during check-ins. This builds visibility and shows initiative. Capturing wins creates a winning culture.   🚀 Impact in Action — Real Example: Role: Marketing Coordinator Long-term goal: Increase brand engagement on LinkedIn   🔁 Keep the Habit Going At the end of the week, reflect: What did I learn? What can I improve next week? What’s the next logical step? Expert Tip - If I set a SMART goal that appears to too big or too overhwhelming and add another "S" for "small" and set a SSMART goal.

First impressions You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. That means new leaders must set some immediate expectations on their arrival to a new company posting. They don’t have a choice. If they unwisely decide to ‘take some time and discover the company & its people first’ they create uncertainty. People will be saying ‘’What’s she doing’’? ‘’Who is she really’’? ‘’What does she want us to do’’? ‘’Is she different from our last boss’’? ‘’Is my job safe’’? I am not suggesting they turn up and immediately roll out a new comprehensive detailed company strategy. I am suggesting that they share some of their values and standards when it comes to operating in an organisation. For example, they might say;  “Hi everyone, my name is Diana, and I look forward to getting to know you all more over the coming weeks. I am going to take some time looking at the business and how we all work together. There are some things you will always be able to expect from me, and that I will expect from you as well. I will honour my obligations – if I say I’ll do something, I will do it. I believe in getting the basics right with communication. That means that meetings are short and effective, with actions and dates. And it means using emails and messaging effectively – speak in person as a priority and where emails must be used, reply in a timely fashion. When we consistently honour our obligations and communicate well, we can achieve great things.” I think this is a mature ‘first impression’, it’s simple, it doesn’t mention the last boss, but it is a clear & simple message. (Note, Diana is fictitious, created to tell this tale!)