Fearless Female Leadership Blog - Mental Toughness & High Performance

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Mental Preparation for Influencing Under Pressure (The “ECO” Mindset)

curiosity empathy influence optimism pressure Oct 29, 2025

If you’ve ever walked into a high-stakes conversation with a great plan yet felt your words landed flat, you’re not alone. What we think and feel beforehand shapes what others hear (through our tone, body language, and presence.) That’s why mental preparation isn’t a “nice to have”... it’s a performance edge.

Over the last decade, my work with senior female leaders has shown a consistent pattern: those who prepare their mindset before they prepare their message influence more effectively… especially under pressure.

I’d like to share a simple, research-informed framework you can use right away.

The 3 Critical Steps (That We Often Skip)

When influence matters, there are three core steps:

Gain clarity on your message
Build internal confidence for your message
Execute an influence framework with the right mental and tactical preparation
Most people skip that third step, and it can be devastating to outcomes with peers, leadership, and customers.

The “ECO” Mindset Model can help you wi...