Panic can be triggered in the moments just before a speech or sales pitch. It is an intense emotional experience that shows on your face, triggers hesitation, and shrinks the breadth of your thoughts and options.
In this post, Dean shares how to snap out of the tunnel vision by practicing two feelings until you can flip them on like a switch.
This isn’t the kind of panic that comes from danger.
This is the kind that shows up right before a big moment — a presentation, a sales pitch, or any situation where you need to influence.
Something small goes wrong. A last-minute change. A technical hiccup. A detail you’re unsure about.
And suddenly, you’re out of your calm state and into panic mode.
I’ve been there many times.
And I’ve developed a technique that consistently helps me shift out of it.
I call it the “eager” vibe.
When panic kicks in, it takes over fast.
Even if you fix the issue, the feeling lingers.
And instead of being present, you’re stuck wondering:
“Did I get that right?”
“What if something’s still off?”
In executive presentation coaching and AEC interview preparation, this is one of the biggest challenges we see. Panic pulls your attention away from the audience — and onto yourself.
The eager vibe is a deliberate emotional shift.
It combines two powerful states:
Think of a great coach before a game:
“Alright team, let’s go show them how this is done.”
There’s energy. There’s urgency. But there’s also confidence and control.
That’s the balance.
Panic pulls you inward.
Eager pushes you outward.
When you step into the eager vibe:
In leadership presence coaching and leadership confidence training, this outward focus is critical. Influence happens when your attention is on what you’re trying to achieve — not what might go wrong.
The key is not waiting for panic to figure this out.
Practice the feeling ahead of time.
Get familiar with what “eager” feels like in your body:
In business speaking, sales pitch coaching, and group presentation coaching, we often simulate these states so they become accessible under pressure.
The more you practice, the faster you can activate it.
When you shift into eager mode, something important happens:
You stop obsessing over details.
You stop trying to make everything perfect.
And you start focusing on what matters — helping your audience, delivering value, making an impact.
That’s where confident presence comes from.
When you enter a room in the eager vibe, you feel different — and you look different.
You’re relaxed enough to connect.
You’re focused enough to lead.
You appear as someone who has already arrived.
In executive presence coaching and interview skills training for professionals, that combination is what draws people in.
So the next time panic starts to creep in, try this:
Choose eager.
Bring the chill. Bring the focus. Bring the energy.
And watch how quickly your presence shifts.
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