Ways To Maintain Composure In Stressful Meetings

Your stress response is killing your reputation. 12 phrases to earn respect under pressure: ⚡️ I used to think staying calm meant staying silent. But silence isn’t strategy — it’s surrender. In high-pressure moments, how you speak is how you lead. These 12 grounded phrases change the game: ⚡️ 1) ❌ Don’t say: "I have to fix this now"   ↳ Say: "Let me pause and respond with clarity"   ↳ Put hand on chest. Anchors your energy inward. 2) ❌ Don’t say: "This always happens to me"   ↳ Say: "I’ve seen this before—I can handle it"   ↳ Shift posture upright. Reclaims self-belief. 3) ❌ Don’t say: "Why can’t they figure it out?"   ↳ Say: "Let me help clarify the next step"   ↳ Take a slow breath. Leads with empathy. 4) ❌ Don’t say: "I’m falling behind"   ↳ Say: "I’ll prioritize what matters most"   ↳ Glance at calendar. Regain perspective. 5) ❌ Don’t say: "I can’t deal with this today"   ↳ Say: "I’ll revisit this when I’m centered"   ↳ Stand up and stretch. Shift state physically. 6) ❌ Don’t say: "I’m so done with this"   ↳ Say: "Let’s take a breath and reset together"   ↳ Place both feet on the ground. Grounding matters. 7) ❌ Don’t say: "I don’t know how to respond"   ↳ Say: "Let me reflect before I reply"   ↳ Look up briefly. Reorients your mental space. 8) ❌ Don’t say: "I’ll just push through it"   ↳ Say: "I want to do this well, not just fast"   ↳ Step back from screen. Protects intention. 9) ❌ Don’t say: "It’s all too much"   ↳ Say: "Let’s simplify and focus on one piece"   ↳ Use hands to map ideas visually. Calms chaos. 10) ❌ Don’t say: "This is exhausting"   ↳ Say: "I’ll rest so I can return strong"   ↳ Close eyes for 30 seconds. Reboot awareness. 11) ❌ Don’t say: "This isn’t fair"   ↳ Say: "What can I learn from this moment?"   ↳ Drop shoulders. Releases resistance to reality. 12) ❌ Don’t say: "Nothing ever goes right"   ↳ Say: "This is hard—and I’m still here"   ↳ Hand on heart. Affirms resilience. That next high-pressure moment is on its way. How you respond is always up to you. Choose presence — on purpose ✨ Which phrase speaks to you today? ♻️ Repost to help your network stay grounded under pressure 🔔 Follow Marco Franzoni for more tools to lead with presence and clarity

Underrated superpower: staying calm in chaos. 5 research-backed strategies to master it. Last week, I was in a meeting when a leader let out an audible sigh during a tense meeting. The sigh wasn’t just a sigh. It was a signal of frustration that spread to the whole team. People disengaged, the room grew tense, and the project suffered. We’ve all been there. One sigh, one eye roll, one tense moment. And suddenly the room shifts. It’s a reminder,  even small reactions can have big consequences. Here’s the thing:  Your brain’s amygdala can hijack your body in high-stress moments, triggering fight-or-flight mode.  It overrides the rational prefrontal cortex,  making it harder to think clearly  or make good decisions. But the most successful leaders I’ve seen stay calm. Especially when things feel crazy.  Their calm inspires trust,  strengthens relationships,  and turns chaos into clarity. Want to do the same? Try these 5 proven techniques: 1️⃣ Understand Amygdala Hijack (and How to Stop It): When stress hits, the amygdala can hijack your ability to think clearly, overriding the rational prefrontal cortex and making decision-making nearly impossible. Tip: Spot the signs (racing heart, flushed face) and remind yourself, “This is a biological response—I can take control.”   2️⃣ Hack Your Nervous System with Breathwork: Slow, controlled breathing signals your brain that you’re safe. Tip: Try Box Breathing. It reduces cortisol and reactivates the rational part of your brain. 3️⃣ Ground Yourself Physically: Grounding techniques interrupt emotional overwhelm by bringing your focus to the present moment. Tip: Plant your feet firmly on the floor or lightly touch your fingers together while counting to 10. 4️⃣ Label Your Emotions: When emotions run high, naming them can create psychological distance. This practice, known as affect labeling, helps you step back from intense feelings and respond with clarity. Tip: Instead of saying, “I’m so angry,” try reframing it as, “I’m having the thought that I feel angry.” 5️⃣ Use a Mantra to Stay Centered: Mantras are a powerful way to interrupt emotional escalation. Tip: Repeat phrases like, “This will pass” or “This isn’t about me. This is about business.” Each technique works on its own, but together, they give you the tools to master any high-pressure moment. Stress is inevitable.  Chaos is inevitable.  But calm?  That’s your leadership edge. And your greatest strength. What’s your go-to strategy for staying calm? ♻️ Share this to make calm contagious. ➕ And follow me (Amy) for more.

I recently had an intense meeting with an aggressive audit client. Dealing with high-pressure situations and managing stress is part of the job. But this meeting was a lesson in patience, empathy, and strategic communication. Here are 5 invaluable lessons I learned in those exhausting 2 hours: 1. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀:    In face of aggressive questioning,    emotional neutrality is key.        Stick to the data, the facts,    and the audit issues. 2. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱, 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁:    Emotional reactions can    escalate conflict.        A calm, collected response    can help diffuse tension. 3. 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆:    Often, aggression comes    from feeling unheard.        Active listening shows    respect for their views and    can smooth the conversation. 4. 𝗕𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗳𝘂𝗹:    Standing your ground is critical,    but it's important to maintain respect.        Our words reflect our professional integrity. 5. 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲:    Post meeting, it's crucial to destress.        A few minutes of deep breathing,    a walk, or even a cup of tea    can help reset your emotional state. Have you faced similar situations? How do you deal with aggressive clients? ---------------------------------- Hi there, I'm Rob. I teach people (especially auditors) how to become awesome. ---------------------------------- Repost ♻️ if you found this useful Let's Connect --->Robert Berry #thatauditguy #internalaudit