Standing out doesn’t require saying more.
It requires saying what matters — clearly, calmly, and with intention.
When professionals prepare for executive interviews, they usually focus on one thing:
having the right answers.
They research the role, review their experience, anticipate questions, and gather examples. All of that matters — but it’s rarely what separates candidates who advance from those who don’t.
What executive interviews really test is this:
Can you clearly communicate your value under pressure?
Recently, I worked with a senior leader who had been selected to interview for a high-stakes executive role. He had done the work. He knew the organization, the position, and his qualifications inside and out.
Yet something still felt incomplete.
His concern wasn’t content — it was clarity.
He had strong ideas, but too many of them. He understood the role deeply, but struggled to shape that understanding into a compelling narrative the interview panel could easily follow and remember.
As he put it:
“I had the ideas, but I needed help turning them into a powerful narrative.”
This is where many highly qualified professionals get stuck.
Content Isn’t the Problem — Structure Is
In executive interviews, more information doesn’t equal more impact.
In fact, it often works against you.
Interview panels are listening for:
- Strategic thinking
- Decision-making under pressure
- Clear leadership presence
- The ability to influence and align others
If your message feels scattered, rushed, or overly detailed, your credibility suffers — even when your experience is strong.
In our very first session, we focused on one thing:
distilling complexity into a clear, confident story.
Once the structure was in place, everything else became easier. The answers felt intentional. The delivery felt grounded. The narrative made sense not only to him — but to the people across the table.
Later, he told me:
“The value was immediate. In our very first meeting, Lori helped me distill everything into the beginnings of a potent narrative.”
Presence Is a Skill — Not a Personality Trait
One of the biggest misconceptions about executive interviews is that confidence is something you either have or you don’t.
In reality, confidence is communicated through:
- Pace
- Focus
- Intentional pauses
- Clear framing of ideas
When leaders learn how to organize their message and deliver it with presence, the room responds differently. Interviewers lean in. Questions deepen. Trust builds.
In this case, the interview didn’t just go well — it led to an offer.
As my client shared afterward:
“Her coaching was instrumental in helping me craft and deliver a presentation that ultimately won me the position.”
Why This Matters Beyond Interviews
This kind of communication isn’t just useful in interviews.
It’s essential for:
- Board presentations
- Stakeholder updates
- Leadership transitions
- High-visibility meetings
Any moment where your ideas need to land clearly — and stick.
Strong communication doesn’t mean saying more.
It means saying what matters, in a way others can hear and remember.
Final Thought
If you’re preparing for an executive interview, a promotion conversation, or a high-stakes presentation, ask yourself this:
Is my message clear — or just comprehensive?
The difference can change outcomes.
If you want to walk into your next interview or presentation with clarity, confidence, and presence — I can help.
I work with leaders who don’t need more content.
They need their message to land.
Reach out to work with me and put your best leadership story forward — when it matters most.