This is the third of a three-part series on presenting to the executive team. 

During the pandemic, I worked with mid-level executives across a variety of industries who had to navigate a particularly difficult form of communication in a new way:  presenting to the executive team via Zoom.  Now that the trend is clearly moving to being back in the office, at least a few days a week, those same executives have to get used to presenting in person again.

It’s surprisingly stressful.  Many of these mid-level folks found that they liked having their bosses on the other end of a computer screen.  In a way, the screen had a democratizing effect.  Reduced to a tiny two-dimensional square, the CEO suddenly seemed less intimidating.  And while presenting on Zoom certainly brought with it many challenges, everyone was in the same lockdown boat, and that had a unifying effect in many companies.

But now the managers are managing in person once again and when the CEO is also in town, that typically means tackling him or her face to face.  Many of these mid-level folks report feeling newly uncomfortable, having gotten out of practice for face-to-face meetings. Following is the third of a three-part primer on how to present to the executive team in person once again.  In the first part, I talked about the issue of reading body language.  In the second part, I discussed how to keep the executives’ attention.  And in this third part, how to show up with oodles of executive presence.

If this presentation is particularly nervy for you, you’re not alone.  Most of us would rate a presentation to the executive team as a high-stakes endeavor.  So, the first step is to acknowledge that you’re not going to feel comfortable and accept the adrenaline that goes with it.  You will survive, no one will die, and there may be a stiff drink (or your other reward of choice) waiting for you at the end of the day.  OK, given the discomfort, what can you do to show up with more presence?

First, practice deep breathing.  The techniques of good belly breathing should be obvious by now to anyone who partakes of the modern world even a little. I’ve blogged about it many times. The basic idea is that you take a big breath into your lungs by expanding your belly, like the bulb of an eye dropper, and then let that breath out slowly on a longer count than the inhale.  If you practice this technique, you will start to experience a relaxation response a few breaths in.  The health benefits are myriad, so do this exercise daily.  Then it will be second nature when you need it.

Second, put on your air pods or equivalent and play a favorite piece of upbeat music.  Music infects the emotional centers almost instantly, and if you pick the right music (not Mozart’s Requiem) you will be dancing down the hall (or in your chair) on the way to the meeting.  Take that positive energy into the first few minutes of your presentation.  Your energy is infectious, and soon everyone will feel it.

Third, practice positive self-talk and mental imagery.  This is too woo-woo for some, but I have seen many cases of those willing to try it succeeding beautifully.  Top athletes work on their mental game as assiduously as their physical game, by creating mental images of a successful run, or throw, or three-pointer.  If it works for them, it will work for you.  Run the movie in your head before the actual event and see yourself succeeding.  Keep it positive and you will be surprised at how secure you feel.

There’s more to executive presence than these pointers, of course, but take them on and see your stature rise in the organization – and on the big day.  You got this.