Avoid This When You Speak: How to Communicate Calmly and Clearly Under Pressure

<p>In this episode, communication coach Helen von Dadelszenreveals the biggest mistake leaders make when speaking under pressure—and how to avoid it. Learn why confidence grows through action, not waiting, and discover practical tools like breathing techniques and improv that help you communicate clearly and calmly. Gain insights into managing your body, voice, and mind to connect authentically and lead with impact.</p><p><br /></p><p>What You Will Learn:</p><p> 💡 Why confidence grows through doing, and how action beats waiting every time</p><p>💡 How improv techniques prepare you to think quickly and communicate with ease</p><p>💡 Three practical tools to manage your body, voice, and mind for calm and impactful speaking</p><p><br /></p><p>Here’s to your leadership development and personal growth!</p><p> </p><p>Estelle Read  </p><p>Bestselling Author, Leadership Coach &amp; Host of Optimising Leader Brilliance</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Timestamps:</strong>(00:00) – Intro and Episode Overview<br />(03:00) – Biggest Speaking Mistake: Letting Ego Take Over<br />(07:15) – Building Confidence Through Action, Not Waiting<br />(12:30) – Using Improv to Handle High-Pressure Conversations<br />(18:45) – Recognizing and Managing Your Body’s Nervous Signals<br />(24:10) – Breathing Technique: The Physiological Sigh for Calm<br />(29:00) – Avoid Over-Polishing: Be Natural, Not Performative<br />(34:20) – How to Focus on Your Audience, Not Yourself<br />(39:15) – Simplifying Your Message: What Do You Want Your Audience to Think,Feel, or Do?<br />(44:00) – Practical Tips to Prepare for Unpredictable Questions<br />(49:20) – Reflective Coaching Questions to Take Action Now<br />(54:45) – Closing and How to Continue Building Your Speaking Confidence</p><p></p><p>📱FOLLOW OR CONTACT:<br />⭐GUEST: Helen von Dadelszen, https://academy.presentpotential.ch/, <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Courageous-Action-playbook-communicating-confidently/dp/2970194805/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.co.uk/Courageous-Action-playbook-communicating-confidently/dp/2970194805/</a></p><p>⭐ HOST: Estelle Readhttps://linktr.ee/EstelleAtBeee or @EstelleReadCoach</p><p> </p><p><strong>🧰 ACCESS FREE RESOURCES &amp; TOOLS:</strong></p><p>⭐Want a summary of today’s learnings?</p><p>Subscribe to Estelle Read’s blog, <em>The Brilliant Leader’s Notebook</em>, to get the key takeaways from every single episode: <a href="https://mailchi.mp/a0cfa5a8a10c/8ch