Psychology at Work | Career Success, Leadership, Communication Skills 102. Executive Presence in the Public Sector: How One Government Leader Got a First-of-Its-Kind Initiative Approved FAST
May 12, 2026
Roxanne Ryan-Elazier, a mid- to senior-level public sector leader in international development and foreign policy, shares her rise from strong work to persuasive influence. She talks about navigating complex stakeholder ecosystems. She explains tailoring communication to different decision styles. She reveals how she won fast approval for a first-of-its-kind initiative by lowering leaders’ cognitive load and framing big-picture impact.
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Communication Is Different In Government
- Government and non-profit environments require different communication norms than corporate settings, with higher complexity and layered approvals.
- Roxanne highlights risk aversion, multiple stakeholders, and the need to balance tone, data, and formality across agencies and partners.
Match Your Message To The Stakeholder Style
- Put yourself in the listener's perspective and identify their style (commander, cheerleader, caretaker, controller) to tailor brevity and actionability.
- Roxanne shifted from verbose detail to concise, actionable messaging for senior leaders with limited bandwidth.
Why A Sensitive Striver Joined The Program
- Roxanne joined Speak Like a Senior Leader after taking a resilience course and identifying as a sensitive striver seeking regulation and better influence.
- The program taught her political intelligence beyond technical skills learned in business school.
