Build the adaptive judgment to communicate persuasively, navigate pivotal dialogue, and lead with confidence when the path forward is not clear.
Executive communication is a critical leadership capability. As the scale and visibility of decisions increase, leaders must communicate with clarity, credibility, and purpose. This program equips experienced professionals with research-based tools to influence outcomes in high-stakes settings.
Executive Communication for Leaders: Grander Stages, Higher Stakes explores pragmatic tools for executive-level communication and how to immediately apply them in simulated scenarios. Drawing on proven frameworks and techniques, this program will strengthen your ability to distill complex messages, influence diverse audiences, communicate with executive presence, ask and answer difficult questions, and use purposeful stories to create meaning and momentum. Through an engaging mix of introspection, dynamic dialogue, interactive practice exercises, and valuable peer feedback, leaders will be equipped to drive alignment and action when it matters most.
Participant Insight
鈥淥ne of the most valuable aspects of the program was its immediate relevance to the many spaces in which I lead and serve. As an academic leader, I communicate with faculty, administrators, students, community partners, policymakers, and other stakeholders鈥攐ften with competing priorities and perspectives. The program gave me a stronger framework for adapting my message to different audiences while remaining authentic to my leadership voice and values."
鈥� Associate Dean of Sciences, Community College of Allegheny County
Key Takeaways
- Apply evidence-based principles of persuasion to strengthen message effectiveness.
听 - Use ethical influence to build credibility, trust, and consensus.
听 - Structure executive presentations for clarity, relevance, and memorability.
听 - Develop concise, purpose-driven narratives that motivate engagement.
听 - Respond effectively to difficult or skeptical questions using proven frameworks.
听 - Frame strategic issues by integrating qualitative insight with quantitative evidence.
Who Should Attend
This program is designed for experienced professionals in high-visibility roles who must influence decisions, exercise judgment, and communicate with confidence under pressure. It is ideal for leaders who: Influence decisions without relying on formal authority; communicate regularly with boards, executive teams, investors, or external stakeholders; champion strategic change, innovation, or transformation initiatives; navigate challenging questions, skepticism, or resistance in public or semi-public forums; or aspire to elevate their executive presence and effectiveness as organizational ambassadors and thought leaders.
Participants typically include general managers, functional leaders, enterprise-level project sponsors, and emerging C-suite executives whose expanding roles demand greater executive presence and influence.
Sample Schedule
While subject to change, the following schedule gives participants an idea of what to expect in this program.
Opening Insights (30 minutes) - In this opening session, participants will share personal introductions and personal development reflections.
DAY 1 - BUILD THE CAPABILITIES
Opening Insights: Confidence, Communication & Leadership(45 minutes) - Establish the program's central themes and explore what makes communication "executive" when visibility, ambiguity, resistance, or stakes increase. Participants will identify a personal high-stakes communication challenge and reflect on where greater confidence would strengthen their leadership effectiveness.
Levers for Persuasion: Building a Decision-Ready Message(1.5 hours) - Learn pressure-tested frameworks and evidence-based concepts, including Aristotle's levers of persuasion, to strengthen the substance and style of an executive message. Participants will diagnose and revise their pre-work pitches with explicit attention to audience, context, and the action they seek to inspire.
Executive Impact: Making Your Message Meaningful & Memorable(1.25 hours) - Explore the 3Vs framework and approaches for executive delivery and presence. Through short delivery rounds and peer observation, participants will practice translating a strong message into a credible, confident, and memorable executive communication.
Navigating High-Stakes Q&A(1.5 hours) - Inspect different types of questions and learn strategies to maintain composure, advance a position, and build confidence in the face of skepticism, aggressive opposition, or agenda-driven inquiry. Participants will apply the A-B-C response method and the Ask, Listen, Ask, Learn questioning framework in live practice.
Strategic Storytelling: Creating Resonance & Momentum(1.25 hours) - Introduce principles of engaging, purpose-driven stories and examine when narrative can increase relevance and motivate engagement. Participants will add a narrative component to their evolving executive message and practice selecting a story suited to the audience and moment.
Day 1 Integration(30 minutes) - Participants will revisit their original communication challenge, identify how their message and approach have changed, and reflect on the judgment exercised in making those choices. The discussion will establish the bridge to Day 2's focus on integrating and adapting these capabilities under changing conditions.
