This week, I sat in multiple meetings watching executives present to C-suite leaders and senior teams.

I have to say, I witnessed some of the best presenters I've ever seen in action.

They didn't just deliver information. They ran a show.

Fluid, seamless, ready with answers, and equally impressive when they didn't have the answer. Sheer confidence that filled the room, but delivered with kindness and respect, always giving others credit where it was due.

But what made them truly exceptional wasn't their polish or their slides.

It was how they mastered context.

These presenters knew their audience to a T. Not just an audience - but audiences, plural. The main stakeholders, the guests who were there for specific agenda items, the partners who needed different information entirely.

And here's what blew me away: they provided the right amount of context for each group, all at the same time, without losing anyone in the room.

Then I witnessed something that will stay with me forever.

One presenter was discussing certain results that, frankly, looked pretty bad on the surface. You could feel the tension creeping into the room. Someone asked a concerned question that could have derailed everything.

But instead of getting defensive or making excuses, this executive said something like: "I know this looks awful in isolation, but when you see it this way... it doesn't."

They acknowledged the uncomfortable truth everyone was already thinking, took full responsibility, and then shed light on the broader context that completely shifted the perspective.

Within minutes, I could literally feel the energy in the room change. There was almost a collective sigh of relief.

That's the power of providing the right context at the right moment.

Here's what these master presenters do that everyone else misses:

They anticipate confusion before it derails the room. They know exactly where people might get lost, what assumptions they're bringing, and what context gaps exist. They address these proactively, not reactively.

They read multiple audiences simultaneously. They understand that the CFO needs different context than the Marketing Director, who needs different context than the external partner - and they layer their presentation to serve all of them without losing anyone.

They turn potential negatives into teaching moments. Instead of avoiding uncomfortable topics, they lean into them with context that reframes the entire conversation.

The best presenters are the most contextually intelligent.

They understand that information without proper context is just noise. But information with the right context? That's how you move people, change minds, and get things done.

I've been in rooms where brilliant people lost their audience because they assumed everyone had the same background knowledge. I've also been the presenter who dove too deep into details without setting the stage first.

We've all been there.

But here's what I'm taking from this week's observations, and what you can apply immediately:

Before your next presentation, ask yourself: Who else will be in that room besides your main audience? What do they need to understand to stay engaged? And if something goes sideways, because it will - how can you acknowledge the reality while providing the context that shifts the conversation forward?

Context isn't just background information. It's your superpower for connecting with people and moving them to action.

Now, go crush your next presentation or pitch where you'll shine by making everyone feel seen and understood. 😉

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That’s it for this week.

Keep showing up, keep cheering each other on, keep building, and as always - thank you for being here.💛

Samira & The Executiv Team

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK