An executive checking their phone mid-presentation usually isn't a sign of disrespect — it's a sign your structure hasn't earned their attention yet. The fix works on two levels: how you build the message, and how you recapture focus in the moment.

At the structural level, use the Executive Pitch Model or the Executive Quick Model. Both front-load the answer — your position, your recommendation — instead of building up to it. Executives disengage fastest when a message opens with background and context they have to sit through before getting to the point. Lead with the headline, then establish NEED, IMPACT, and PATH. If they know where you're going in the first sentence, they have a reason to stay looking up.

In the moment, two tools help you win attention back without calling anyone out. The Clarity Tool reminds you to slow down and use a deliberate pause — silence is often more noticeable than talking, and a well-placed pause tends to pull eyes up faster than raising your voice. Pair that with a direct, specific question aimed at them by name: "Sarah, I'd like your read on this option before I move on" is far more effective than a general "does this make sense to everyone?" that's easy to half-answer without looking up.

Also run Know Your Audience (Who, Know, Care) before the meeting. If you already know this executive tends to multitask, plan your headline and your re-engagement question in advance rather than improvising in the moment.

Why it matters: How you respond when an executive disengages says as much about your executive presence as the content itself. Recapturing attention calmly and without embarrassing anyone signals confidence; ignoring it or visibly reacting to it does not.