During a recent executive presence workshop for HR leaders, a participant raised her hand, visibly exasperated.
“How do I get my point across in the boardroom when I can barely finish a sentence before someone cuts me off?”
Heads nodded around the room.
Another voice chimed in: “Sometimes it’s worse. They don’t even interrupt. They just check their phones or look bored.”
If you’ve ever tried presenting to senior executives, you know the feeling of trying to jump onto a moving train. There’s no warm-up, no breathing room and barely time to finish a sentence. And when you’re cut off or ignored entirely? It can throw even seasoned professionals off balance.
However, these moments, frustrating as they are, are also opportunities. They’re chances to demonstrate leadership, adaptability and influence if you know how to respond.
Understand the executive mindset
Senior executives are often operating in fight-or-flight mode. Their time is scarce, their responsibilities vast and their attention divided. When they interrupt, it’s not always disrespect. Sometimes it can be their way of getting to the point faster or assessing whether what you’re saying aligns with their priorities.
According to a 2025 report by Flowtrace, executives spend at least 12 hours in meetings per week, and 67% of those meetings are considered failures. This underscores the importance of concise and relevant communication.
Here’s what to look out for:
Frame your content around their agenda.
Adapt your language to match their style: concise for strategic thinkers, detail-ready for analytical types.
Lead with what matters most
Executives are not there for the full story; they’re there for the bottom line. They want the headline first, not the journey to it.
Research indicates that 52% of employees start to lose attention in meetings in the first 30 minutes (in my experience, it’s the first 10 minutes or so). This highlights the necessity of capturing attention early.
Here’s what you can do to grab their attention:
Open with your key message or recommendation.
Use the inverted pyramid structure: conclusion first, then supporting evidence.
Edit ruthlessly. Strip out anything that doesn’t answer, “Why should they care?”
Handle interruptions with poise
Interruptions aren’t always rude; they can be a sign that your message is landing. How you handle them matters just as much as what you’re presenting.
Studies show that interruptions often serve as status-organizing cues, with higher-status individuals more likely to interrupt those of lower status. Understanding this dynamic can help in responding effectively.
Try this instead of panicking:
Pause, listen and let them finish.
Acknowledge their point, then link it back, saying something like “That’s a valid concern. Here’s how this proposal addresses it.”
Stay calm, and never treat it as a personal attack.
Reclaim attention when ignored
Being ignored can be worse than being interrupted. If their eyes are on phones or drifting elsewhere, don’t take it as a sign to give up. Take it as a cue to shift gears.
Especially during virtual meetings, with 92% of executives spending time multitasking, it’s crucial to engage your audience actively.
Try these tips:
Use their name to bring them back in. For example, “James, does this align with your team’s current focus?”
Drop in a surprising statistic, story or question.
Wrap up with a strong summary and next step. Don’t compete with a distracted room; close with impact.
Anticipate the room’s dynamics
The most effective presenters aren’t just prepared; they’re prepared to adapt. Executives may shift gears, interrupt, cut time short or change the direction of the conversation. Your agility will set you apart.
Remember to:
Prepare responses to likely questions and concerns.
Practice redirecting while holding onto your core message.
Don’t rush to fill silences; they can be moments of reflection or decision-making.
Build trust through authenticity
You don’t need to perform. Executives respond to trust, not perfection. Confidence grounded in clarity, humility and shared goals is more potent than bravado.
Always:
Be honest if you don’t have an answer, and offer to follow up.
Emphasize mutual objectives and position your message as part of a bigger strategy.
Do what you say you’ll do; follow-through earns influence.
Every challenge is a chance to lead
The boardroom will never be a perfectly polite space. But it doesn’t need to be. Interruptions, disengagement and tough questions are all part of the environment, and each one is an invitation to rise.
You don’t need to dominate the room to earn respect. Meet executives where they are, engage them in a way that speaks their language and steer the conversation with calm, clear focus.
Boardroom influence isn’t about getting through your slide deck. It’s about making your voice matter. And the best way to make sure they hear you is to ensure that what you say actually matters and brings value to your audience.
Opinions expressed by SmartBrief contributors are their own.
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