Majority of professionals struggle to communicate effectively with senior leadership

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New research reveals a boardroom confidence cliff as senior audiences put capable professionals under pressure

LONDON, 13th October 2026 — More than half of professionals struggle with communication in senior, large or high-stakes settings, according to new research from executive communication coaching firm Benjamin Ball Associates.

The report, From Expertise to Influence, draws on 2,589 pre-coaching questionnaires covering 15,768 answer fields and reveals 54% of respondents struggle to communicate effectively with senior audiences.

The research points to a clear boardroom confidence issue: professionals who communicate effectively in everyday meetings can become less concise, less fluid and less persuasive when presenting to boards, investors, leadership teams or unfamiliar audiences. 

These moments create a distinctive kind of pressure as greater visibility, higher perceived consequences, tougher questioning and stronger expectations of brevity and authority all increase the stress on experienced professionals.

The wider finding is that communication at senior level is less about presenting information and more about shaping decisions, building confidence and leading discussions. As professionals become more senior, their ability to turn expertise into influence becomes increasingly important.

Benjamin Ball Associates advises professionals preparing for senior audiences to focus on four areas: Tell senior audiences the recommendation, decision or key message upfront rather than starting with a lengthy background. Focus on the information that matters to the decision and keep supporting analysis in reserve. Identify likely objections and difficult questions in advance and practise concise responses. Practise with colleagues who are prepared to interrupt, challenge assumptions and ask tough questions.

These techniques can help professionals move away from simply demonstrating expertise towards using that expertise to shape decisions and influence outcomes.

Benjamin Ball, founder of Benjamin Ball Associates, said:

“People often assume that the more senior you become, the easier these situations get. In reality, the stakes get higher. You have less time to make your point, the audience is more demanding and every answer carries more weight.

“That pressure can make highly capable people over-explain, rush or retreat into detail. The risk is that the expertise is there, but the impact gets lost.

“The best approach is to make life easier for both yourself and your audience. Lead with your recommendation rather than building up to it, cut anything that doesn’t support your main point and be absolutely clear about what you want from the room.

“And prepare for the presentation to become a conversation. Work out the toughest questions you could face and practise answering them out loud. Get colleagues to challenge you before the board or investors do. That kind of rehearsal makes it much easier to stay calm, concise and authoritative when the pressure is real.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

The 2026 Executive Communication Coaching Report: From Expertise to Influence is based on a thematic analysis of 2,589 pre-coaching questionnaires completed by delegates attending Benjamin Ball Associates programmes.

The analysis covered 15,768 answer fields across programmes including presentation and public speaking coaching, investor and fundraising communication, media and crisis communication, business and board report writing, executive presence, sales, influence and negotiation.

Eighty-three per cent of responses related to presentation, public speaking, pitching, investor or fundraising contexts. As questionnaire wording and programme types varied, the reported percentages should be treated as directional indicators rather than statistically representative survey results.

About Benjamin Ball Associates

Benjamin Ball Associates is a UK-based executive presentation and communication coaching firm. It works with senior leaders, technical specialists and client-facing teams across the UK, Europe, the Americas and the Middle East.

The firm supports clients with presentations, investor meetings, board updates, pitches, executive presence, media work and other commercially significant communication situations.

Media enquiries:
Jack Hayes
Head of Digital PR
E: j.hayes@varn.co.uk
M: +4479 0110 5657

Report:
From Expertise to Influence: The 2026 Executive Communication Coaching Report