The Presentation Whisperer Show
Mastering the High-Stakes Presentation
Episode Summary
When every word matters and the room is watching, how do you communicate with absolute impact? High-stakes presentations can define careers, shape decisions, and alter relationships in a single moment... and they demand more than just good slides and clear speech. Author, professional speaker, and professor, Dr. Robert J. Petrausch sits down with Rob to unpack what separates high-stakes communication from the everyday kind. Drawing on experience as a U.S. Air Force Captain, Fortune 500 communications executive, and seasoned facilitator, he reveals how to prepare, perform, and stay poised when the pressure is on, and the outcome truly matters.
Episode Notes
In this Presentation Whisperer Show, you’ll learn:
- What truly defines a “high-stakes” presentation — and why it’s about more than money or audience size.
- How to prepare for high-stakes presentations or facilitation engagements with essential stakeholders.
- Why audiences remember certain elements more than others, and how to emphasize what truly counts.
- A practical process or methodology for shaping impactful, high-pressure presentations.
- The common behaviors and mindsets top leaders share when the stakes couldn’t be higher.
- How preparation differs between high-stakes and routine presentations.
- Effective strategies for managing nerves when the audience feels “too important.”
- How to balance control of the room with flexibility when the unexpected happens.
- And, for anyone stepping up to the mic under pressure, how to walk to the front of the room with confidence and clarity.
To learn more about this guest:
Email is Petrausch@sbcglobal.net
Cell is 860-318-6718
LinkedIn URL: www.linkedin.com/in/dr.robertpetrausch