11/02/2026
Your pitch starts before you say a word, and the way you’re breathing has a TON to do with it.
It takes someone seconds to form an opinion on whether or not they can trust you. A lot of this is beyond cosncious comprehension. We are pattern recognition machines, so a lot of the cues we pick up on are sub-perceptual.
As an executive coach to founders, I see this play out constantly. A founder can have 12 million in ARR and great traction, and still leave the room with doubt hanging in the air. Their words say “fundable” but their posture, voice, and breath tell a different story.
The breath is one of the biggest giveaways. Under pressure, it climbs into the chest and shoulders. Listeners pick up on that tension and mirror it, and the message never has a fair chance to land.
Here’s what helps -
Before you pitch, carve out a few minutes to sit and breathe. Notice where the breath enters your body and guide it lower, into the belly and across the bottom of the rib cage. This is the breathing pattern that puts a listener at ease.
The numbers in your deck are super important, but your presence decides whether anyone believes them.
What helps you get grounded before an important conversation?
