Turn Pressure Into Advantage With Emotional Mastery

A brilliant CEO candidate sat across from a skeptical board member during the final interview for a role she wanted. Without warning, the interviewer leaned forward and stated bluntly: "Your approach is fundamentally flawed and shows a concerning lack of understanding."

The candidate felt her pulse spike and her face flush. 

Every instinct screamed to defend her expertise, list credentials, or counter-attack. Instead, she paused, maintained steady eye contact, and responded: "To be honest, I wasn't expecting that. I'd appreciate understanding which part of the approach raised those concerns for you."

That single response completely shifted the power dynamic in the room.

I later learned she nearly had an aneurysm at that moment—and she cried on the debrief call with me. It took everything she had not to react defensively, but she remembered our preparation and held steady. 

We rebounded and won the job. The board member became a believer. 

Your emotions are visible to everyone but you.