Think Clearly, Speak Powerfully in High-Pressure Moments

In this episode of the HigherEdJobs Podcast, Andy Hibel and Kelly Cherwin spoke with Dr. Daniel Moser, a communication expert and professor of practice at Northwestern University, about how professionals can manage anxiety, communicate their ideas clearly, and perform at their best in high-pressure moments such as interviews, presentations, and job talks.

Why Interview and Presentation Anxiety Happens

Moser explained that anxiety during interviews or presentations is not unusual. In fact, he said it is rooted in basic human instincts. “For 150,000 years of human evolution, the idea of standing in front of a group of people and being one person… is like the idea of that, I am one, you are many, you could kill me,” Moser said. Because of this instinct, the brain can sometimes react with fight, flight, or freeze when someone must perform or present in front of others.

Andy pointed out that job seekers understand their qualifications but may struggle to communicate them clearly during interviews or networking conversations. “Job seekers feel confident in what their experience is and their skills, but not necessarily in presenting themselves or telling their story,” he said.

Rather than trying to eliminate nerves entirely, Moser encouraged people to reframe how they think about these moments. “Take the attention off of yourself and put it on what needs to be done,” he said, explaining that sharing information or helping an audience understand something — can shift attention away from self-consciousness.

Communicating Clearly to Mixed Audiences

Kelly then shifted the conversation to job talks and presentations that may include audiences with different levels of familiarity with a topic. “Hired candidates oftentimes need to translate their passion, their research, their experience into a clear message for mixed audiences,” she said.

Moser explained that audience awareness is critical. “You can talk about nuclear engineering and nuclear power to nuclear engineers or to second graders,” he said. “But you would use different verbiage and different metaphors and different analogies.”

He encouraged speakers to provide strong context early and use examples that help everyone in the room follow along. Using analogies, stories, and concrete examples can help bring listeners along, even if they are not experts in the subject.

He also emphasized the importance of reading the room while speaking. “You’re reading the audience,” Moser noted, explaining that speakers should watch body language and reactions to determine whether people are engaged or confused. If attention begins to drift, small adjustments in pacing, tone, or delivery can help reconnect with listeners.

Preparing Stories for Interviews and Presentations

When the conversation turned to interviews, Andy raised the challenge of answering questions in real time. “Sometimes you have a hard time coming up with the right example,” he said.

Moser emphasized preparing experiences rather than memorizing responses. “You’ve got to know your stories,” he said, explaining that candidates should be ready to refer to meaningful moments in their work or academic history.

He also noted that each line on a resume presents more than a title or task. It reflects what happened and what was learned.

If someone loses their train of thought during an interview, Moser suggested pausing instead of rushing to answer. “Being thoughtful is a very good human way of being in front of an audience,” he said.

Andy agreed. “Don’t forget silence can work in your favor,” he said.

Using the PREP Framework to Organize Ideas

Moser also shared a simple structure people can use when answering questions or explaining ideas under pressure. He calls it the PREP framework, a way to keep responses clear and organized.

PREP stands for:

Point – State the main idea Reason – Explain why it matters Example – Provide a specific example Point – Restate the main idea

Moser explained that frameworks like this help people deliver clear messages without relying on memorized scripts. As he put it, “We need to deliver brief, brilliant messages.”

The Value of Communicating What You Know

Near the end of the conversation, Andy said that when candidates have similar credentials, the deciding factor can sometimes be the conversation itself. “Did this feel like a job interview, or did it feel like a professional discussion?” he asked.

Throughout the episode, Moser’s advice returned to a few practical ideas for people who feel anxious or unsure in those moments: prepare stories rather than scripts, stay focused on the purpose of the conversation, and treat the exchange as something you are building with the people in the room.

He also stressed that being able to explain your work clearly is not an optional skill. But, as he noted, communication is something that develops over time. “With the application of every will, if you practice, you will get better.”