Ever freeze up in front of senior stakeholders? Don't worry, I've been there too!

In this solo episode, I'm sharing the 7 principles I've learned from interviewing ministers and senior leaders about how to show up with confidence, break the ice, and make senior stakeholders genuinely enjoy talking to you.

We'll cover:

• The three modes of persuasion (logos, ethos, pathos) and why emotion matters most
• The Airport Test: why likability beats logic every time
• How to do your homework so you can put it away and be present
• The difference between confrontational and curious when pushing back
• How to follow up in a way that actually leads to relationships

If you've ever felt like you dim your light in front of senior people or struggle to be yourself in high-stakes conversations, this episode is for you.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Deep Human Training events - ⁠https://www.deep-human.com/events⁠
• Lee Kuan Yew's speeches (available online)
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QUOTABLE MOMENTS:

• "The airport test is really a test of likability, of pathos, of connection. Out of the three modes of influence—logic, credibility, and emotion—emotions are the strongest."
• "Your job in the first few minutes is to signal: hey, this is gonna be a real conversation with a real person."
• "People confuse gravitas with being very serious. Some of the most senior people who have the most influence are genuinely fun and energetic."
• "Specificity creates intimacy. I cannot emphasize this enough."
• "From confrontational to curiosity. Don't be confrontational, be curious."
• "The follow-up opens the door to a real ongoing relationship and makes the other person feel that this wasn't just one transactional slice."