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Imagine this. You're about to kick off a presentation recapping your team's recent wins in front of the broader department. But you're feeling a pit in your stomach. You're too nervous to eat beforehand. You can't stop shaking your leg.

You do have a take. You even rehearsed it earlier. But in the moment leading up to your opening, your chest tightens, your thoughts scramble, and somehow your brain goes silent just as everyone's attention turns to you.

It's not because you're unprepared, and it's not a confidence issue either. It's your body's response to pressure.

Why Willpower Doesn't Work Under Pressure

Most people try to power through with willpower. "Take a breath. Don't panic. Act like you've got it together." But when your nervous system is spiraling, pep talks don't help. You don't need mindset—you need a pattern break.

The Simple Technique That Changes Everything

Here's what I teach inside ​the Impromptu Speakers Academy​: before an important meeting, step away for a few seconds. Take one slow breath and picture a random handheld object -- like a green marble -- resting on your palm.

Close your eyes. Hold out your right hand, with your palm lying flat and open. What does it feel like? What does it look like? How many are in your palm? Focus on imagining that with everything you have for 10 seconds.

 

Sounds simple, but it works. Because the moment you anchor to something physical—just one breath, one visual—you shift attention away from the fear loop in your head.

Away from "Do I sound smart enough? What if I forget something? Are they going to lose trust in me?" And toward: I'm here, I'm grounded, I'm ready.

From there, you can actually think, not just react.

Why Structure Becomes Your Best Friend

This is when structure becomes your best friend. Once you're grounded, you need a simple framework to organize your scattered thoughts. The most versatile one I teach is WHAT → SO WHAT → NOW WHAT—it works for almost any situation where you need to think on your feet.

Here's how it works. Let's say your CEO asks about the customer complaints that came up this quarter:

WHAT (the facts): "We received about 20% more support tickets this quarter, mostly around our new feature rollout."

SO WHAT (why it matters): "This tells me we might have a user education gap rather than a product problem, since the complaints are mainly about confusion, not bugs."

NOW WHAT (what to do): "I'd recommend we create some quick tutorial videos and adjust our onboarding flow to highlight these features better."

The key is using those exact signpost phrases—"What I'm seeing is..." "So what this means is..." "Now what I think we should do is..."—because they keep you on track even if your mind starts to wander. If you catch yourself rambling, just jump to the next signpost.

You can use this framework for budget discussions, team updates, strategic planning, or any moment when someone puts you on the spot. Ground yourself with that green marble, then let the structure guide you through a clear, organized response.

If you want more practice speaking with frameworks, then I highly recommend joining my live training on Wednesday, June 25th at 3pm Pacific Time. Click ​HERE​ to let me know what you'd specifically like me to cover in the workshop.

Have a great weekend.

Preston