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Kathryn Janicek

Why Media Interview Preparation Is Your Most Strategic Investment

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Media interviews represent one of the most valuable opportunities in your communications arsenal. When your CEO or executive team appears in Bloomberg, CNBC, or industry publications, you’re reaching audiences that trust editorial coverage far more than advertising. But here’s what keeps communications leaders awake at night: even the most brilliant executives can stumble when facing cameras and microphones without proper preparation.

After twenty years producing television news and managing newsrooms—and now coaching Fortune 500 leaders after earning three Emmy awards—I’ve seen both sides of this equation. I know what journalists need to create compelling stories, and I understand exactly what executives need to deliver messages that resonate, protect reputation, and drive business outcomes.

The Partnership Approach: Working With the Media, Not Against Them

Let me be clear: most journalists want you to succeed. They’re professionals looking to tell compelling, accurate stories. A prepared, articulate interview subject makes their job easier and produces better content for everyone.

The challenge isn’t hostile media—it’s the gap between how executives typically communicate and what makes for effective media presence. Business leaders excel at nuanced strategy discussions, detailed technical explanations, and measured internal communications. Media interviews demand something different: clarity, conciseness, and the ability to make complex ideas accessible in seconds, not minutes.

That’s why preparation matters. Not to defend against attacks, but to partner effectively with journalists who are working under tight deadlines and need clear, quotable content.

What Communications Leaders Tell Me

Marketing and communications heads frequently share the same concern: “Our CEO is brilliant and charismatic, but I worry they’re not prepared for how different a media interview is from a board presentation or investor call.”

They’re right to be concerned. The executives I work with often tell me after training: “I had no idea how much preparation this required.” It’s not about intelligence or experience—it’s about understanding a different medium with different rules.

Three Pillars of Strategic Media Preparation

1. Master Your Core Messages

Before any significant interview, identify exactly three key messages. Not five, not ten—three.

These function as your strategic anchors. No matter what questions come your way, you’ll have clear, memorable points to communicate. Write them down, memorize them, and practice pivoting back to them from any angle. Think of them as the essential takeaways you want every reader, viewer, or listener to remember.

I once coached the founder of a children’s snack food line sold at major retailers. During initial practice sessions, he mentioned his company’s previous name, discussed earlier ventures, and buried the lead on what made his current product unique. The messaging was scattered.

We refined it to three clear points: the company name, the neurological benefits of the ingredients, and where consumers could purchase the product. By creating this focused framework, we built a direct path from interview to consumer action. The journalist got clear, quotable content. The audience got valuable information. The business achieved its objectives.

If you can’t instantly recall your three key messages under pressure, you need more preparation time.

2. Anticipate Difficult Questions (Because Journalists Will Ask Them)

Professional journalists do their homework. They’ll research your company, read analyst reports, check litigation databases, and review press coverage. This isn’t antagonistic—it’s thorough journalism.

Your preparation should match their professionalism. List every challenging question they might reasonably ask: restructuring plans, competitive threats, past controversies, regulatory issues, leadership changes.

Then develop honest, concise responses. Notice I said “honest”—credibility is everything in media relations. Your responses should acknowledge the question directly, provide appropriate context, and transition naturally to your strategic messages.

Here’s a critical rule from my producing days: never say “no comment.”

I remember covering a medical controversy in Detroit. A doctor accused of patient harm encountered our camera outside his office. His immediate response? Hand over the lens, repeated “no comment, no comment,” and a quick retreat.

That footage ran across every newscast. In the court of public opinion, his refusal to engage looked like an admission of guilt. The visual became the story.

“No comment” creates a void that audiences fill with assumptions—usually negative ones. Instead, prepare thoughtful responses that acknowledge questions while maintaining your strategic focus. Journalists respect executives who engage professionally, even on difficult topics.

3. Practice Under Realistic Conditions

Your executives are extraordinarily busy running complex organizations. Media training often gets deprioritized because the interview “is just a conversation” or “we’ll review talking points beforehand.”

This is where unprepared executives get into trouble.

Media interviews operate under different constraints than business conversations. Journalists work with tight timeframes, specific story angles, and audiences who may know nothing about your industry. Your executive needs to communicate complex ideas in clear, accessible language while remaining quotable and engaging.

Reviewing talking points in the car won’t cut it.

Effective preparation means rehearsing out loud and with your entire body using someone playing the journalist role. Record these practice sessions. Watch them back critically. Notice where your executive uses jargon, runs long on answers, or misses opportunities to reinforce key messages.

If they stumble during practice, they’ll face real problems during the actual interview when stakes are higher and there’s no second take.

The Strategic Advantage of Being Prepared

Mastering media interviews isn’t defensive—it’s offensive strategy. Prepared executives command attention, build credibility, and extend their influence far beyond what advertising or owned media can achieve.

The executives I work with often tell me after training: “I had no idea how dangerous that could have been.” No one wants to tell the CEO they’re not ready. That’s where proper preparation comes in.

When your CEO appears confidently on CNBC discussing industry trends, they’re not just representing your company—they’re positioning it as a thought leader. When your executive provides clear, insightful commentary to the Wall Street Journal, you’re building relationships with journalists who’ll call again for future stories.

These opportunities compound over time, but only when your executives consistently deliver value to journalists and their audiences.

A Partnership Built on Mutual Success

The best media relationships are built on mutual respect and understanding. Journalists need credible sources who can explain complex topics clearly. Companies need platforms to share their stories, demonstrate expertise, and build reputation.

Preparation is what makes this partnership work. It ensures your executives can meet journalists’ needs while achieving your communications objectives. It transforms potentially risky situations into strategic opportunities.

Your next media interview doesn’t have to be a source of anxiety. With proper preparation, it becomes a powerful platform to amplify your message, strengthen your brand, and position your leadership team as the experts your industry needs to hear from.

Ready to Transform Your Media Presence?

At Janicek Performance Group, we specialize in training leaders to accelerate growth, command attention, and drive innovation through impactful communication. If you’re ready to transform from expert to influential leader, refine your presence, project confidence, and take control of your message, reach out today to learn how we can help.

Drawing on twenty years of television news production and newsroom management, combined with extensive work coaching Fortune 500 executives, we bring the perspective journalists value and the strategic preparation communications leaders require. Let’s ensure your next media opportunity delivers the results your business deserves.

Creating Executive Presence in Virtual Meetings

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How to Show Up Looking Like a CEO in Team Meetings

You’ve built your career on results. You’ve earned your seat at the table. But when you show up on screen in virtual meetings, something fundamental breaks down—and it’s costing you more than you realize.

Your teams can’t see the confidence in your eyes. Your board notices a disconnect they can’t quite name. Your direct reports disengage halfway through your town halls. And the feedback you’re getting is frustratingly vague: “We need more energy.” “Can you be more present?” “Something feels off.”

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: In a virtual-first world, your executive presence isn’t being measured by your track record or your strategic vision alone. It’s being judged in the first three seconds of every video call—before you’ve said a single word. Poor lighting, awkward camera angles, flat audio, and distracted body language are quietly eroding the authority you’ve spent decades building.

This isn’t about vanity or being camera-ready. This is about influence at scale. When you’re leading distributed teams, managing investor expectations, or presenting to the board, your virtual presence is your presence. Period. And right now, too many Fortune 500 leaders are showing up like they’re hiding from their own message—low energy, disconnected, literally in the dark.

If you keep showing up small, scattered, and unsure, no one will step up to follow you.

Magnetic leaders don’t hope to be seen. They make it impossible to look away.

When Your Boss Notices You’re Not Showing Up

I recently worked with a North American president at a global company. His CEO instructed him to hire a media trainer to improve his online meeting presence. The CEO couldn’t explain exactly what to do. They just said, “Fix it.” When the president reached out, we saw the issues immediately. He wasn’t showing up in meetings the way he should. He was in the dark when presenting to his teams. He needed better artificial lighting or to face the window in his office, and he was looking off to the side at other monitors while leading his teams instead of looking directly into the camera.

Our body language, or how we present ourselves to others, accounts for more than 50% of our message. His audience literally couldn’t see his eyes or connect with him as a result. It was hurting his reputation.

The transformation took just a few hours. We worked with him to reposition his setup, adjust his camera, add proper lighting, and coached him on where to look. The impact was immediate. His employees felt engaged for the first time in months.

This isn’t about vanity. It’s about influence. And you can make these same changes starting today.

We also changed how he delivered his live town halls from one of his factories. We fixed the audio, the framing of the shot, the equipment used, his body language, the messaging, and the way he segued to his subject matter experts, improving the experience for hundreds of employees.

Five Pillars of Virtual Executive Presence

1. Camera Angle: Meet People Eye-to-Eye

Your camera angle speaks volumes before you say a single word.

Too high? You look weak and meek, like someone asking for permission rather than leading with authority. No company wants its leaders looking small.

Too low? You’re literally looking down on people, which creates an unintentional power dynamic. The focus should be on your eyes, not on your neck or jacket collar.

The solution: Position your camera at eye level. Imagine a level tool measuring from your eyes to the center of the camera lens. This creates an even, respectful connection with everyone you’re leading.

2. Lighting: Look Like the Leader You Are

Poor lighting makes you look tired, unprepared, and less trustworthy, even if you’re none of those things. Those harsh overhead ceiling lights? They’re creating dark circles and shadows you don’t actually have.

You don’t need to show up looking like an Instagram influencer, but you should look rested, confident, and trustworthy.

One tip I like to share with my clients. If you have a window, try to face that whenever possible and add a light source in front of you. When I set up for a video call while traveling, I take every lamp in my hotel room and arrange them in front of me. Yes, it takes a few extra minutes. But those minutes are worth the credibility you gain.

3. Body Language: Lean into Leadership

Awareness of your body language is the first step to improving your executive presence. Leaning back signals disinterest, fatigue, and disengagement. It says you’d rather be anywhere else.

Instead, lean forward. Your body language should communicate that “I’m excited to be here. I’m going to deliver on time and exceed expectations. Your physical presence should match the promises you’re making.

Make direct eye contact with the camera. Sit with energy and intention. Your body is speaking volumes, so make sure it’s saying the right things.

4. Audio Quality: The Non-Negotiable Element

Research shows that people will tolerate less-than-perfect video quality, but poor audio? They tune out immediately. They’ll switch to another podcast, leave the meeting mentally, or remove their earbuds altogether.

I always tell clients, do not rely on the computer microphone. Invest in an external microphone, as it makes a significant difference in delivering your message.

When speaking, make sure your doors are closed and try to eliminate any background noise.

Great audio isn’t optional. It’s the foundation that allows people to actually hear your message.

5. What You Wear: Color Matters

Wear clothes that make you feel powerful and look great on camera. When you’re staring at yourself during an online meeting, you shouldn’t be critiquing your outfit or doubting your color choice. You should feel confident and focused on your message.

Certain colors evoke confidence and trust. Others can wash you out or undermine your presence.

Take time to test this. Record yourself on your phone wearing different colors. Review your recorded meetings. Ask yourself: Does this color brighten my face? Does it make me feel powerful? Does it align with the message I want to send?

Choose colors that complement you well, not ones that detract from your presence.

The Bottom Line: Your Presence Is Your Power

Executive presence isn’t about hoping people notice you. It’s about making it impossible for them to look away. It’s about showing up with such clarity, confidence, and intention that your team, your investors, and your board feel compelled to lean in and listen.

You don’t need a complete transformation. You need strategic adjustments that compound into undeniable influence. Start with these five pillars and watch how quickly people respond differently to your leadership.

Because magnetic leaders are built, one intentional choice at a time.

At Janicek Performance Group, we specialize in training leaders to accelerate growth, command attention, and drive innovation through impactful communication. If you’re ready to transform from expert to influential leader, refine your presence, project confidence, and take control of your message, reach out today to learn how we can help.

Stop Using Digital Backgrounds: They Could Be Killing Your Executive Presence

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I’m going to share a piece of advice that might seem controversial. Those fake backgrounds you are using for virtual meetings or presentations – STOP USING THEM.

That tropical beach or fake office backdrop you’re using isn’t fooling anyone. In fact, it’s doing the opposite. It’s making you look unprofessional, untrustworthy, and frankly, a little lazy.

If you’re a leader trying to close deals, inspire your team, or impress the board, digital backgrounds are damaging your credibility before you even speak.

Here’s why you should ditch them immediately and what to do instead.

The Digital Background Problem

Think about what happens when you use a digital background. Your fingers disappear mid-gesture. Chunks of your hair vanish when you turn your head. You’ve seen it happen to others, and yes, it’s happening to you. And your team is too embarrassed to tell you.

digital zoom background blunder example - video meeting

Here’s the truth: you’re not a TV studio. Meteorologists use green screens with professional lighting, a whole crew, and a director, ensuring everything looks seamless. You’re sitting in your office with a laptop camera. There’s a massive difference, and your audience can tell.

Why Authenticity Matters More Than Ever

Beyond the technical glitches, digital backgrounds convey a message: you’re hiding something and not showing your genuine self.

In business, transparency builds trust——and much of that trust is built through body language, eye contact, and the subtle cues that digital filters tend to obscure. When you hide behind an artificial environment, you create distance between yourself and your audience. Clients, employees, and board members want to see the real you.

The digital background trend that exploded in 2020 is fading, and for good reason. Research is showing that what people learn from your background helps them connect with you.

What Should Be in Your Background Instead?

Once you’ve removed that digital backdrop, you need to be strategic about what people see behind you.

Keep It Simple and Focused

Your background should never compete with you for attention. Walk around your office right now and look for distractions:

  • Frames catching light and creating glare
  • Busy patterns or bright colors
  • Items that might be politically divisive
  • Anything your audience might try to read instead of listening to you

Remove or relocate anything that pulls focus away from your message.

Create Depth

Don’t sit right up against a wall. It makes you look like you’re being interrogated rather than leading a conversation. Create some distance between yourself and the background. Even just a few feet can make a dramatic difference.

In a small space, you can create the illusion of depth by adding lighting behind you.

Consider Your Colors

You don’t want to blend into your background like a floating head. If you’re wearing dark colors, make sure your background provides contrast. Choose timeless, non-distracting colors that let you pop without overwhelming your message.

Save the Hawaiian shirts and team jerseys for your personal time.

But My Company Requires Branded Backgrounds…

This is a common concern, especially in large corporations.

If your company mandates digital backgrounds with logos, you have options:

First, make your case.

Share the reasoning behind why digital backgrounds undermine credibility. Share this video that makes a case against digital backgrounds! Explain that they make experts look amateur. Most executives will understand once they see the why behind the recommendation.

If that doesn’t work, mitigate the damage:

  • Use excellent lighting to reduce glitching
  • Choose the simplest version possible: one solid color with minimal branding
  • Avoid animated elements or complex images
  • Stay as still as possible (though this ironically pulls your focus away from the actual conversation)

The Bottom Line About Virtual Background During Meetings

Your executive presence is too valuable to be undermined by technical glitches. Digital backgrounds make you look less credible, less trustworthy, and less professional. This is the EXACT opposite of what you’re trying to achieve.

People hire experts who seem confident and authentic. They trust leaders who show up as real, not manufactured. When you ditch the digital background and optimize your actual space, you signal that you have nothing to hide and everything to offer.

Your next video call is an opportunity to show up as the magnetic, influential leader you are. Don’t let a glitchy tropical beach stand in your way.

At Janicek Performance Group, we specialize in training leaders to accelerate growth, command attention, and drive innovation through impactful communication. If you’re ready to transform from expert to influential leader, refine your presence, project confidence, and take control of your message, reach out today to learn how we can help.

Why the Best Leaders Never Stop Learning from Coaching

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Learning How to Take Constructive Criticism is What Separates Top Executives from Everyone Else

At JPG, we coach executives who lead Fortune 500 companies, lead multi-billion-dollar companies, are taking their company public, looking for investors, and influence policy at the highest levels of government and industry.

The majority of them share one common trait: They actively seek out the feedback that makes everyone else uncomfortable.

That’s why they come to us.

Before a group corporate training, I sometimes ask: “What have you heard about this training?”

I get many of the same answers, but the biggest one is, “Get ready to be uncomfortable.”

After more than a decade coaching leaders at the highest levels, I’ve learned feedback should be treated like competitive intelligence. The executives who command respect in boardrooms, influence major decisions, and inspire unwavering loyalty all share this.

Your relationship with criticism determines your ceiling as a leader. Here are the strategies that separate feedback-driven leaders from everyone else.

How to Learn From Constructive Criticism and Turn It into Your Career Accelerator

Every quarter, the same scene plays out in corporate conference rooms across the country. Performance reviews happen, 360-degree feedback gets delivered, and most executives spend their energy explaining why the criticism doesn’t apply to them.

This is perhaps the most expensive mistake you can make for your leadership development.

Every time you deflect feedback, you’re not just missing an opportunity for improvement — you’re advertising to your organization that you’ve stopped growing. Meanwhile, your competitors who embrace criticism are rapidly closing skill gaps and expanding their influence.

The hidden cost of shrugging off feedback compounds quickly. 

Your blind spots become organizational liabilities instead of personal growth opportunities. You develop defensive habits that erode trust with your team. Most damaging of all, you signal to senior leadership that you’re not coachable, which means you get passed over for stretch assignments and advancement opportunities.

Your Playbook for Learning from Feedback

The most strategic leaders approach criticism like market research.

  • Direct feedback from superiors reveals expectations and advancement criteria you might be missing.
  • Peer criticism exposes collaboration blind spots that could derail major initiatives.
  • Team feedback uncovers leadership gaps that directly impact performance and retention.
  • Client criticism provides market intelligence about your professional brand and effectiveness.

The Art of Listening Without Getting Offended

Here’s what most executives miss entirely: The moment you feel defensive about feedback, you’ve stopped learning from it.

Your emotional reaction to criticism becomes more important than the content itself. When someone points out a weakness in your presentation style, questions your decision-making process, or challenges your strategic thinking, your brain’s first impulse is self-protection. You start building counterarguments instead of extracting insights.

But here’s the thing: The feedback that triggers your strongest defensive response usually contains your most valuable growth opportunities.

That criticism about your tendency to interrupt team members during meetings? It’s revealing a leadership blind spot that’s limiting your team’s contribution and innovation. The feedback about your presentations being too detailed for executive audiences? It’s highlighting a communication gap that could be costing you influence at the highest levels.

Turning Constructive Feedback into Career-Changing Action

Your ability to convert criticism into measurable behavior change shows up in every leadership opportunity you’re offered, every promotion you’re considered for, and every relationship that could advance your influence.

Leaders who master feedback implementation don’t just perform better — they develop the growth mindset and adaptability that make them irreplaceable during times of change and opportunity.

The most effective approach involves treating feedback like actionable business intelligence rather than personal attacks to survive. Create specific implementation plans with measurable outcomes and accountability systems. Maybe you’re working to reduce interruptions during team meetings by 80%, or perhaps you’re focused on adapting your communication style for different executive audiences.

The Implementation Framework That Accelerates Growth

Transform every piece of feedback into a strategic development initiative.

  • Immediate acknowledgment demonstrates leadership maturity and openness to growth.
  • Clarifying questions ensure you understand the specific behaviors and impacts involved.
  • Implementation timeline creates accountability and shows commitment to change.
  • Progress check-ins maintain momentum and demonstrate sustained improvement efforts.
  • Impact measurement proves behavior change and reinforces the value of feedback.

Not All Feedback Deserves Equal Weight — Here’s How to Tell the Difference

The most sophisticated leaders know that embracing feedback doesn’t mean accepting every piece of criticism uncritically.

Trust feedback from people with direct observation of your work, a track record of developing others, and no ulterior motives. The best feedback is specific rather than vague, focuses on observable behaviors rather than character attacks, and comes from sources who’ve demonstrated their own growth mindset.

Be cautious of criticism that’s entirely subjective with no concrete examples, delivered by someone with a competing agenda, or rooted in personal style preferences rather than performance impact. The key distinction: Good feedback makes you uncomfortable because it’s true and actionable. Bad feedback makes you confused because it’s inconsistent with multiple other data points or lacks any path forward. When in doubt, look for patterns — if three trusted colleagues independently identify the same issue, that’s intelligence worth acting on immediately.

Ready to Transform Your Leadership Impact?

At JPG, we’ve helped leaders turn their biggest feedback challenges into their greatest strengths. We’ve coached rising executives through feedback implementations that accelerated their promotions. We’ve prepared senior leaders to receive and act on board-level criticism that transformed their strategic thinking.

The difference between good leaders and unforgettable ones isn’t perfection — it’s their response to imperfection.

Whether you’re navigating complex stakeholder feedback, implementing board-level strategic criticism, or building a culture where your team feels safe giving you honest input, we’ll help you master the feedback skills that separate industry leaders from everyone else.

Contact JPG today for a strategic consultation. Because the leaders who shape industries never stop learning.

Unlock Your Full Influence: The Power of Emotional Intelligence for Executives

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Stop and LISTEN: Why EQ Is the Hidden Driver Behind Leadership Influence and Expertise

The most influential executive leaders aren’t necessarily the smartest people in the room. They’re the ones who understand emotions — their own and others’ — and leverage this understanding to drive results, build trust, and establish unshakeable credibility.

Research shows that emotional intelligence accounts for a significant portion of job performance across all industries, and the vast majority of top performers possess high emotional intelligence. For executives and leaders, EQ isn’t just a nice-to-have soft skill — it’s the foundation of influence.

At JPG, we teach you how to understand what motivates each team member and how to adapt your communication and leadership so you reach each person, audience, the board, whoever you need to move to action.

Developing executive emotional intelligence transforms good leaders into influential experts who command respect and drive meaningful change.

Build Trust with Employees and Clients Through Emotional Awareness

Trust is the currency of influence, and emotional intelligence is how you earn it. Leaders with high EQ understand that trust isn’t built through expertise alone — it’s cultivated through consistent emotional competence.

Here’s how emotionally intelligent leaders establish and maintain trust.

Amplify Your Expertise (and Sales) Through Emotional Connection

Your technical knowledge and strategic insights are valuable, but they become truly influential when delivered with emotional intelligence. High-EQ leaders know that people don’t just buy into ideas — they buy into the person presenting them.

  • Read the Room Effectively: Emotionally intelligent leaders can sense when their message isn’t landing and adjust their approach in real-time. This adaptability makes their expertise more accessible and impactful.
  • Navigate Resistance with Skill: When presenting challenging ideas or driving change, high-EQ leaders anticipate emotional responses and address them proactively. They understand that resistance often stems from fear or uncertainty, not disagreement with facts.
  • Create Emotional Buy-In: A study in Frontiers in Psychology found that emotionally intelligent leaders improve both behaviors and business results and have an impact on work team performance. They connect their expertise to the emotional needs and motivations of their audience, making complex concepts personally relevant.

Transform Performance Through EQ Leadership

The data is compelling: according to The Niagara Institute, employees who had managers with high emotional intelligence were four times less likely to leave than those who had managers with low emotional intelligence. This retention translates directly into influence—teams that stay together perform better and amplify their leader’s impact.

Emotionally intelligent leaders transform team performance by:

Leaders who develop their own EQ often become catalysts for organization-wide emotional intelligence development – JPG is here to help executives achieve their goals through practice.

Leverage EQ for Strategic Communication

Your ability to influence depends not just on what you communicate, but how you make people feel about what you’re communicating. As Harvard Business Review notes, “The most effective leaders are all alike in one crucial way: They all have a high degree of what has come to be known as emotional intelligence”.

Strategic emotional intelligence in communication involves several key practices that enhance a leader’s ability to connect, influence, and lead effectively.

One important aspect is timing emotional intelligence. This means knowing when to deliver difficult messages and when to give people space to process information. Leaders with high emotional intelligence recognize that timing can be the deciding factor between gaining support and meeting resistance — a skill we can teach you at JPG. 

Another element is adapting communication styles. People absorb and respond to information in different ways, both emotionally and cognitively. Emotionally intelligent leaders tailor their communication approach to align with the preferences and needs of their audience, increasing clarity and impact.

Finally, strategic use of emotional contagion is a powerful tool. Emotions tend to spread, and high-EQ leaders use this to their advantage by modeling the energy, optimism, and confidence they want to see within their teams or organizations. This deliberate emotional signaling can shape team morale and drive a more positive, resilient culture.

Future-Proof Your Leadership Influence

The business landscape is evolving rapidly, and according to Aims International research, the demand for EQ skills will most likely grow by six times in the next 3-5 years. Leaders who develop high emotional intelligence now are positioning themselves for sustained influence in an increasingly complex world.

Yet here’s the challenge: a significant gap exists between the need for high EQ and the actual number of leaders who possess strong emotional intelligence. This creates a significant opportunity for leaders who commit to developing their EQ.

Develop, measure, and lead with emotional intelligence.

  • Invest in Continuous EQ Development: According to PassiveSecrets research, 75% of Fortune 500 companies are already using EQ training tools, recognizing that emotional intelligence can be developed with intentional practice.
  • Measure and Track Your EQ Growth: Like any executive competency, emotional intelligence improves with measurement, feedback, and deliberate practice. As executive coach Mary Olson-Menzel wisely advises, “Give yourself the space and the grace to figure it out”—it’s okay if you don’t have all the answers, and surrounding yourself with people who can help amplify your strengths is part of emotional intelligence growth.
  • Build EQ Into Your Leadership Development Strategy: The most influential leaders treat emotional intelligence as seriously as they treat financial literacy or strategic planning. This includes what executive leadership expert Mary Olson-Menzel calls “empathetic and humane leadership”—embracing your natural gifts while surrounding yourself with people who complement your skillset and giving your team “the time and the space to think, learn and grow.”

Transform Your Influence: Why EQ Is Your Competitive Advantage

In a world where technical knowledge is increasingly commoditized, emotional intelligence becomes your differentiator. The leaders who understand this—who invest in developing their EQ alongside their expertise—become the voices that others follow, trust, and remember.

Your expertise gets you in the room. Your emotional intelligence makes you the person everyone in that room wants to hear from.

The data is clear: high emotional intelligence doesn’t just make you a better leader—it makes you a more influential expert whose impact extends far beyond your immediate team or organization.

Are you ready to develop the emotional intelligence that transforms expertise into influence?

Let’s work together to build your executive EQ at JPG and help you drive your success and that of your company.

From Classroom to Boardroom: The College Blueprint for Speaking Success

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Here’s What You (or Your Kids) Can Do to Build Executive Presence Starting in College

At JPG, we coach executives in their 40s, 50s, and 60s who are operating at the highest levels. These executives present to colleagues, board members, and industry panels, where they need to be viewed as knowledgeable and charismatic.

And do you know what many whisper to me right before I start preparing them?

“I wish I hadn’t skipped that presentation class in college.”

You’re reading that right. This starts early.

The self-doubt. The hesitation to present in front of others. The fear of messing up publicly. The fear of failure.

And now… it’s decades later and they wish they had worked on this skill sooner, because they’re playing expensive catch-up as senior executives.

The executives who command attention in boardrooms, influence policymakers, and inspire teams all share something in common. They didn’t wait until their first job to start building their speaking skills.

The truth is, your college years offer something you’ll never get again—a (relatively) consequence-free environment to experiment, fail, learn, and grow. Miss this window, and you could spend your career playing catch-up while your peers who maximized these opportunities are already influencing outcomes and advancing faster.

Here are the strategies to turn your college experience into a speaking success accelerator.

You Can’t Skip Presenting in Class

Every semester, the same scene plays out across college campuses. Students carefully craft their schedules with one primary goal: avoiding presentations at all costs. They’ll choose the professor known for only giving written exams, select classes that focus exclusively on individual projects, or even delay graduation to dodge that dreaded public speaking requirement.   

This is perhaps the most expensive mistake you can make for your professional development.

Every time you avoid a presentation opportunity, you’re not just missing an assignment—you’re passing up leadership development that costs executives thousands of dollars to acquire later. I work with senior leaders who pay premium rates to develop the exact skills you can build for free in college classrooms.

The hidden cost of avoidance compounds quickly. Your first workplace presentation becomes trial by fire instead of natural progression. You miss four-plus years of low-stakes practice opportunities while your colleagues who embraced college speaking advance faster. Most damaging of all, you develop presentation anxiety instead of presentation confidence, which means your brilliant ideas get overlooked because you can’t articulate them effectively.

Your Presentation Strategy Playbook

In college, you get access to different presentation formats that mirror executive-level communication:

Solo presentations build individual confidence and personal brand recognition.

Group presentations develop collaborative leadership and consensus-building skills.

Impromptu speaking teaches quick thinking under pressure.

Q&A sessions master the art of graceful recovery and authentic expertise demonstration.

Network Like Your Future Depends on It (Because It Does)

Your dorm neighbor today could be your business partner tomorrow. Your study group member might offer you your dream job in five years. The debate team president could introduce you to the investor who funds your startup.

But here’s what most students miss entirely: Networking isn’t just about collecting contacts—it’s about practicing communication skills with different personality types in various professional contexts. Every club meeting, every event, every casual conversation becomes an opportunity to refine how you articulate ideas, build rapport, and influence outcomes.

The most strategic approach involves joining clubs aligned with your career goals while actively pursuing leadership positions. Business students should engage with entrepreneurship clubs, case competition teams, and business fraternities. Engineering students benefit from professional societies, robotics teams, and hackathons. Liberal arts students develop crucial skills through debate teams, Model UN, and student government participation.

Being Part of a Team Teaches You How to Be Coachable

The free-throw line with two seconds left. The serve at match point. The penalty kick with the championship on the line.

These moments teach you something no classroom can replicate: how to perform when it matters most.

When you commit to playing a team sport in college, you’re not just building physical fitness—you’re developing the psychological resilience and performance-under-pressure abilities that separate good speakers from great ones. The feedback loop in sports provides immediate, honest assessment that accelerates growth. Your coach doesn’t sugarcoat performance critiques, and teammates don’t hesitate to point out when you’re not contributing effectively.

This environment teaches you to receive criticism constructively, implement changes quickly, and maintain confidence even when performance isn’t perfect. These skills transfer seamlessly to professional environments where you need to handle challenging questions, adapt presentations based on audience feedback, and recover gracefully from mistakes.

The Communication Skills Hidden in Competition

The athletic mindset toward improvement—analyzing performance, accepting coaching, and persistently working on weaknesses—creates the foundation for lifelong communication skill development.

Pre-presentation nerves get managed like pre-game butterflies.

Hostile audiences get handled like opposing team pressure.

Technical difficulties get adapted to like equipment malfunctions during competition.

Performance mistakes get recovered from like missed shots or dropped passes.

The Winning Mindset That Transforms Speakers

Your relationship with success and failure shows up in every presentation you give, every meeting you lead, and every conversation that could advance your career.

Students with winning mindsets don’t just perform better academically—they develop the confidence and resilience that make them magnetic speakers throughout their careers. This mindset starts with reframing how you view challenges and setbacks. Instead of seeing difficult presentations as potential sources of embarrassment, view them as opportunities to develop skills that will serve you for decades.

The most effective approach involves setting specific, measurable speaking goals rather than hoping to simply “get through” presentations. Maybe you want to maintain eye contact with audience members for 80% of your presentation time, or perhaps you’re working to eliminate filler words from five-minute segments. These measurable goals create accountability and provide clear markers of improvement.

Build Your Online Brand

Your digital presence speaks before you enter the room.

In today’s professional landscape, your online brand serves as a preview of your communication skills, thought leadership potential, and professional maturity. Employers, potential collaborators, and speaking opportunity organizers will evaluate your digital footprint long before they hear you speak in person.

LinkedIn becomes your most important professional platform, but treating it like an online resume misses the opportunity entirely. Transform your profile into a communication showcase by optimizing your headline to highlight speaking-related achievements and developing expertise. Share insights from coursework and projects weekly, demonstrating your ability to distill complex concepts into valuable takeaways for professional audiences.

The content you create serves as speaking practice in written form. Blog posts teach you to organize complex ideas logically while LinkedIn articles help develop industry-relevant thought leadership. Social media threads force you to communicate concepts concisely, and guest posting opportunities help you adapt your voice for different audiences.

Your Speaking Success Starts Today

Sometimes the most powerful transformations come from small, strategic investments that start way before you need them.

The choice becomes clear when you understand the stakes: spend four years avoiding the discomfort of speaking opportunities, then scramble to catch up in your first job, or use these college years as your strategic advantage, building skills that will accelerate your career from day one.

Your future boardroom presentation that secures your promotion is being shaped by the decision you make today about that upcoming class presentation.

Ready to Transform Your Leadership Communication?

The executives who dominate boardrooms, influence billion-dollar decisions, and command standing ovations didn’t develop those skills by accident. They invested in expert coaching that transforms natural ability into magnetic presence.

At JPG, we’ve helped Fortune 500 leaders go from monotone presentations to spontaneous standing ovations. We’ve prepared rising executives for their first board presentations to global leadership teams. We’ve coached philanthropic leaders addressing diplomats at international events.

The difference between good leaders and unforgettable ones isn’t talent—it’s training.

Your competitors are already investing in executive presence coaching. The question is: will you let them gain the advantage, or will you claim your spot as the leader everyone remembers?

Whether you’re preparing for high-stakes investor meetings, board presentations, or media interviews where every word matters, we’ll help you command the room from the moment you speak.

Ready to discover what magnetic leadership looks like for your team?

Contact JPG today for a strategic consultation. Because the leaders who shape industries don’t leave their influence to chance.

Transform your experts into influential, magnetic leaders. The boardroom is waiting.

Schedule a consultation → At JPG, we’ll help you develop these skills — even if you skipped that class.

The Power of Neutral Body Language for Executive Presence

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Why the Line Between Confidence and Conceit Can Make or Break Your Leadership Impact

You’ve worked hard to get where you are. You’re smart, capable, and deserving of the executive role you hold. Yet there’s a delicate balance every leader must master: projecting confidence without crossing into arrogance, showing authority without appearing conceited.

Many high-achieving executives struggle with this balance. They either overcompensate with aggressive body language that alienates their audience, or they underplay their authority and fail to command the respect they’ve earned. The solution lies in mastering what we call “neutral confidence,” a physical presence that communicates competence and authority while remaining approachable and authentic.

The truth is, the body language patterns from your past — whether from athletics, military service, or other formative experiences — often tip you too far in one direction or the other. Developing authentic executive presence means finding that perfect middle ground where confidence meets approachability.

Five tips to help you master your body language as an executive

Avoid the Confidence Extremes That Undermine Your Authority

The biggest mistake executives make is swinging too far in either direction, either appearing overly aggressive or insufficiently confident. Both extremes damage your ability to influence and lead effectively.

Here’s how past experiences commonly create these problematic extremes.

  • The “High Chin” Trap: Many executives think confidence means lifting their chin high and looking down at others. This often stems from being told to “hold your head up high,” but it creates an arrogant appearance that makes audiences defensive and resistant to your message.

  • The “Wrestler Stance” Problem: Former athletes, particularly those from contact sports, often maintain an aggressive, forward-leaning posture with shoulders hunched and head lowered. While this projected strength in competition, it can appear confrontational or intimidating in executive settings.

  • The “Defensive Crouch” Pattern: Leaders who grew up in challenging environments or dealt with insecurity might default to looking down, hands in pockets, or closed-off positioning. This protective body language signals uncertainty and undermines executive authority.

Confidence isn’t about projecting dominance or hiding vulnerability, it’s about demonstrating calm, centered competence.

Master the Sweet Spot: Neutral Confidence

Neutral confidence is the perfect balance between authority and approachability. It’s confident without being conceited, strong without being aggressive, and open without being vulnerable. This is the physical presence that makes you likable, that makes people want to listen to you and trust your leadership.

Here’s how to embody neutral confidence.

  • Head Position: Keep your head level and centered, neither tilted up in an arrogant position nor angled down defensively. Your head should sit naturally on your shoulders, creating a neutral line that allows for comfortable eye contact without looking down on others or appearing submissive.

  • Shoulder Alignment: Let your shoulders sit naturally in a relaxed but upright position. Avoid pulling them back in rigid military attention (which can appear stiff) or hunching them forward defensively (which signals insecurity). This natural positioning projects both strength and accessibility.

  • Natural Hand Placement: Your hands should rest comfortably at your sides — not clasped behind your back (too formal), crossed in front (defensive), or buried in your pockets (too casual). This open position signals confidence and accessibility while avoiding both arrogant and insecure posturing.

The Executive Stage Entrance: Confidence Without Conceit

The way you walk onto a stage or enter a room is where the balance between confidence and conceit is most visible. This entrance sets the tone for how your audience perceives your leadership — and it’s where executives most commonly tip too far toward arrogance or insecurity.

Your balanced executive entrance should follow this sequence.

  • Purposeful Walk: Move with intention and control, but not with the swagger that suggests superiority. Your pace should reflect thoughtful confidence, not the rushed energy of nervousness nor the slow, deliberate walk that can appear condescending.

  • Centered Positioning: When you reach your speaking position, plant your feet shoulder-width apart in a stable, grounded stance. Avoid the wide athletic stance that projects aggression or the narrow, tentative positioning that suggests uncertainty.

  • The Confidence Pause: Before you begin speaking, take a moment to look at your audience and breathe. This pause demonstrates comfort with attention and control of the moment. Keep it brief to avoid appearing self-important or overly dramatic.

Transform Your Internal Dialogue

Often, the body language patterns we carry from our past are linked to internal narratives that no longer serve us. The wrestler who learned to look intimidating, the shy kid who learned to avoid eye contact, or the military officer who learned to maintain rigid posture — these adaptations made sense in their original context.

Executive presence coaching helps you recognize and transform these patterns.

  • Acknowledge Your Journey: Recognize that the experiences that shaped you also gave you valuable qualities — determination, resilience, competitive drive. The goal isn’t to eliminate these traits but to express them in ways that serve your current role.

  • Embrace Your Evolution: You’re not the same person you were in college or in your first job. Your body language can evolve too. Give yourself permission to show up differently as the executive you are today.

  • Practice New Patterns: Like any skill, neutral confidence requires conscious practice. Work with coaches or trusted colleagues to identify when your old patterns emerge and consciously choose new responses.

Read the Room and Adapt Your Presence

Neutral confidence isn’t about maintaining the same exact posture in every situation. It’s about having a centered baseline that you can adjust based on your audience and context while maintaining your authentic authority.

Consider these adjustments.

  • High-Stakes Presentations: Maintain slightly more formal posture while keeping the natural, approachable elements of neutral confidence.

  • Team Meetings: Allow for more relaxed positioning while ensuring you don’t slip into defensive or casual patterns that undermine your leadership.

  • One-on-One Conversations: Match the energy of your conversation partner while maintaining your centered presence. Successful leaders should be curious, open and respectful while maintaining their authentic leadership presence.

Own Your Authority Without Alienating Your Audience

The most influential executives understand that true confidence doesn’t need to prove itself through aggressive posturing or superior positioning. Instead, it demonstrates itself through calm, centered authority that invites engagement rather than demanding submission.

Your past experiences — whether competitive athletics, military service, or overcoming challenges — gave you valuable qualities like determination, resilience, and drive. The goal isn’t to eliminate these traits but to express them through neutral confidence that commands respect without creating resistance.

Remember, you’ve earned your place in the executive suite. Your body language should reflect that achievement while remaining approachable and authentic. When you master the balance between confidence and conceit, you give your expertise and intelligence the physical presence that enhances rather than undermines your message.

The goal isn’t to become someone else, it’s to let the competent, approachable leader you are show up fully in every room you enter.

Ready to master the confidence that connects rather than intimidates?

We’re here to help you master every aspect of executive presence at JPG!

Polling with Purpose: Engage With Your Audience Immediately with this Introduction

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How Beginning Your Presentation With An Audience Poll Sets You Up For Success

 

For a powerful executive presentation that connects with and is remembered by your audience, you have to engage with everyone in the room (whether physical or virtual) within the first few minutes of your talk. 

 

Whether you’re presenting in a virtual conference panel or physically in front of the board of your company, that engagement is crucial to your success. You have several options for this type of presentation introductory strategy — a simple yet effective choice is taking a poll.

 

Why Conducting A Poll Will Amp Up Your Introduction

 

At JPG, we teach our clients the importance of having this “cognitive anchor” at the beginning of our presentations or somewhere within — no matter what kind of presentations they are. A “cognitive anchor” refers to the anchoring effect, which is when an audience relies heavily on the first information they receive to make a judgment or decision (such as whether or not to trust and/or listen to you while you’re speaking). 

 

Studies show that audiences decide whether or not to fully participate (pay attention) to a presentation within the first 10 seconds of listening. So, if you start strong, chances are your audience will stay with you for your entire talk. One way to win this strong start is to engage your audience immediately. 

How Polling Your Audience Draws Them In

 

Starting your presentation with something simple, such as a “How many of you had to drive in this morning?” connects your audience to you and what you’re about to present to them immediately. Polling stops them from multitasking, encourages participation, and makes your presentation more interactive. 

Polling your audience gets you two huge wins as a speaker immediately.

 

  • It prompts the audience (when in a physical room) to look around the space and see what the majority answer is. 
  • People connect with one another — those in the front row turn around, folks in the back look beside them — it gets everyone curious about the baseline answer that the poll questioned.
  • It gives you context for whatever you’re about to speak on next.
  • It gives you an entry point to engage more with an audience member later on in your talk. 

 

After you get these wins, you need to use them. When you ask for the “show of hands” — follow that up with sharing with the audience what you’re seeing and what you’re learning about them. Give them the context that you’ll use to appeal to them more.

Using Your Introduction To Tailor Your Talk To Your Audience

 

A simple question might seem surface-level, but it gives you valuable insight into the mindset of your audience, which is vital for your success as a speaker. You can go a level deeper if the question starts off the topic of your presentation. 

 

Recently, JPG coached an executive to take part in a roundtable panel to discuss the current state of the construction industry. 

 

When asked what artificial intelligence innovations or tools his company is looking at investing in and implementing, he turned to the audience with a question: “How many pages of documentation do you think you generate for a 400-foot high-rise job? Show of hands if you think it’s at least 500,000.” 

 

The majority of hands in the room went up. 

 

He then increased the question to 1 million, then 2 million, then 3 million. With each raise, more and more hands went down until only a few were left held high. 

 

The answer was 3.2 million. 

 

He used this audience poll not just as context for the audience, but as knowledge for himself so that he could accurately frame and inflect his vocal tone on what he said next not only about the automation tools that his company is considering and why, but how tools like this could potentially impact the entire industry — including everyone in the room. 

 

That audience poll gave him an “in” to the rest of his talk and, in the process, grabbed the attention of everyone in the room.

 

This is exactly how you need to approach not only audience engagement but also the first few precious minutes of any talk you give. 

 

Master Audience Engagement with Janicek Performance Group

Executive Presentation Coaching can help with Strategy

 

When used intentionally, polling isn’t just a moment of audience interaction—it’s a strategic move that sets the tone for the rest of your talk. A well-timed poll captures attention, builds immediate rapport, and gives you real-time insight into your audience’s mindset. With the right coaching, you can turn this simple technique into one of your most effective communication tools.

 

At JPG, we can give you the skills to master this simple yet powerful tool.  We help professionals master tools like audience polling to deliver confident, relevant, and high-impact presentations — whether on stage or on screen.

 Key Preparations Before Your Big Speech or Presentation: Tips for Executives and Leaders

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Why Proper Preparation Sets the Stage for an Unforgettable Performance

As an executive or leader, your ability to deliver an impactful keynote or speech is often a reflection of your preparation. While the day of the event is crucial, the night before is just as important. 

Preparing for your speech in advance ensures you step onto the stage with confidence, fully ready to engage your audience.

Below are key actions we coach our clients to take the night before a big speech to ensure they’re set up for success.

1. Visit the Venue Early

Getting to the venue the night before your speech is one of the most important things you can do to reduce uncertainty and boost your confidence. This simple act helps you familiarize yourself with the space, anticipate any challenges, and mentally prepare. 

Here’s what to focus on when you visit.

  • Stage Layout: How many steps are there to the stage? Where is the lectern placed? You may prefer the lectern to be removed to have more freedom of movement. If so, ask in advance for it to be cleared.

  • Monitors and Teleprompters: Know what kind of equipment is available to you for your script or slides. If there is a monitor, make sure you can see your slides without needing to turn around constantly. This ensures smooth transitions during your presentation and allows you to maintain eye contact with your audience. If there is a teleprompter, ensure that you are comfortable with its speed setting and practice beforehand if possible.

  • Lighting and Audio: Check how well-lit the stage is and the placement of microphones. Understand the acoustics of the room to avoid any surprises on the big day.

2. Arrive Early for Sound Check

Never underestimate the importance of a sound check. Although it may be optional, it’s a non-negotiable part of your preparation. 

Arriving early for the sound check gives you the opportunity to prepare in several ways.

  • Test Audio Equipment: Ensure the microphone works well, whether it’s a handheld or lavalier mic. Know how it feels and adjust it if necessary. For instance, if you prefer using your hands freely, check if a lavalier mic would work best for you.

  • Get Comfortable with the Mic: If you’re using a stick mic, practice holding it and getting accustomed to your movement and gestures. This helps you avoid any discomfort when you’re on stage. If you’ll be given a lavalier mic, make sure you’re wearing attire that has an appropriate collar or place to attach it.

  • Minimize the Unexpected: Testing the mic and sound system helps you avoid potential technical difficulties that could distract you during your speech.

3. Plan Your Performance

You might feel nervous or even experience anxiety before speaking, but preparation can help reduce these feelings. When you’re familiar with the environment, equipment, and technical aspects, you’re better equipped to focus on the delivery itself.

  • Mental Rehearsal: Visualize your performance as you review the venue and audio setup. Picture yourself confidently walking on stage, delivering your key messages, and engaging the audience.

  • Personal Routine: Consider any pre-speech rituals that help calm your nerves. Whether it’s a breathing exercise, a few minutes of meditation, or reviewing your notes, find what works for you and make it part of your preparation.

4. Don’t Rely on Last-Minute Rehearsals

While practicing your speech is essential, avoid cramming or stressing over last-minute rehearsals the night before. Instead, take time to relax and ensure you’re mentally and physically ready. A good night’s sleep is just as important as your final prep. Your brain needs rest to perform at its best. 

5. Prepare for the Unexpected

Finally, remember that no matter how well you prepare, things may not go as planned. And that’s okay. 

Leaders who excel are able to adapt and think on their feet — training with JPG professionals can help you develop this skill (this is another reason you need sleep, so you can think on your feet). If something goes wrong, whether it’s technical difficulties, a forgotten slide, or a question you weren’t prepared for, stay calm, keep your composure, and focus on delivering value to your audience.

Set the Stage for Success: What to Do the Night Before Your Big Speech 

The night before your big speech is an opportunity to set yourself up for success. By visiting the venue, conducting a sound check, mentally rehearsing, and ensuring your equipment is ready, you’ll reduce the potential for surprises and walk onto the stage ready to impress. 

With these strategies, you’ll be poised to deliver an exceptional performance, whether in front of 12 or 3,000 people. 

Are you ready to command the stage and transform your expertise to influence?

We’re here to help at JPG!