Picture a woman entering a meeting room, standing tall, walking with confidence and composure, and greeting the other attendees with a warm, engaging smile.

She sits in her seat, owns her space, and begins engaging with others around her (versus slumping in her chair and not actively connecting).

Once the meeting officially starts, she shares her perspectives and ideas clearly and concisely, knowing that in high-stakes meetings and presentations, you often have 5 minutes or less to get your message across and convince the room that your idea has merit.

That scene provides a glimpse of powerful presence—more frequently called executive presence—in action. And it matters.

Presence in both the spoken and unspoken form matters significantly in business. It’s a key factor that determines whether you can drive the business forward and gain access to more opportunities. It’s essential to building strong relationships across the organization and being seen by senior leaders as someone who accomplishes great things.

At PowerSpeaking, Inc., we intentionally use the term “powerful presence” rather than “executive presence” because you don't need to be an executive to demonstrate it. Powerful presence has nothing to do with title, nothing to do with level. You can exhibit powerful presence and inspire confidence in others regardless of your role, regardless of your level within an organization.

Finally, powerful presence isn't something you inherently have or don't have. It is a collection of communication skills and behaviors that you can and should develop and continue to refine.

So, in this blog, we highlight what it takes to cultivate an authentic, inspiring, powerful presence. We’ve compiled the strategies from PowerSpeaking, Inc.’s decades of experience and research, and from insights shared during a PowerSpeaking Live! discussion with expert panelists Monica Poindexter and Julia Kraft.

Let’s get started . . .

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1. Be an Authentic, Confident Communicator

🔹 Authenticity plays a huge role in having a powerful presence. When you communicate, don’t try to be “perfect” or like someone you aren’t. Communication is about genuine connection, not perfection.

🔹 Speak clearly and with purpose, and ensure your message is concise, direct, and relevant to your audience. Use your tone, pace, and volume to emphasize key points and convey confidence.

🔹 Avoid filler words like "um" and "like," and communicate a sense of certainty by “down-gliding” at the end of your sentences rather than using “up talk,” which makes you sound uncertain.

“Confidence is a state of being that you bring to any room, any conversation, whether you're saying something or not. It's just within you, and people feel it. It’s about your belief in yourself, your perceiving your own value, and that exudes out through every little nuance of how you show up.”  — Julia Kraft

2. Elevate Your Body Language

🔹 Let your body convey confidence: Stand and sit tall, with your shoulders back and head held high.

🔹 Permit yourself to “take up space.” Use purposeful gestures and maintain open, approachable body language.

🔹 Make frequent, meaningful eye contact to engage and demonstrate interest in your audience.

3. Dress the Part

🔹 Be sure your appearance reflects the level of professionalism and authority you want to project.

🔹 Dress appropriately for the company culture, industry standards, and the context of your interactions.

🔹 At the same time, find the balance between professionalism and authenticity that will communicate your personal brand.

4. Don’t Confuse Arrogance With Confidence

🔹 Arrogance is egocentric, with too much focus on talking about yourself, your opinions, and your accomplishments. Confidence is actively engaging and contributing, plus drawing attention to the accomplishments of others.

🔹 Arrogance is striving to be a know-it-all. Confidence is seeking to understand.

🔹 Arrogance is born from insecurity. Confidence is born from true inner strength.

5. Build Strong Relationships

🔹 Build rapport with colleagues at all levels of the organization to create a rich network and broaden your perspective.

🔹 Offer support, mentorship, and constructive feedback to others, which will elevate your reputation as a leader.

🔹 Ask others for perspectives on your presence, then use that feedback to continually improve.

“When I am not fully confident, I will find ways to pressure test my ideas in safe environments, with a trusted circle, or with individuals … so I can move forward.” 
— Monica Poindexter

6. Develop Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

🔹 Be aware of your emotions and how they influence your behavior and the way you communicate.

🔹 Recognize and empathize with the emotions of others, adjusting your responses to maintain positive interactions.

🔹 Understand that “charisma” (a hallmark of powerful presence) isn’t confined to extroverts and entertainers. You’re charismatic when you are passionate about what you do, show genuine interest in others, and inspire people to engage with you.

Julia, Monica, and I elaborate on some of the key tips in this blog . . .

7. Listen Actively

🔹 Listen as much or more than you speak. Demonstrating that you genuinely value others’ input will build trust and credibility.

🔹 Nod or give short verbal affirmations (like “I see” or “That’s a great point”) to show that you're engaged.

🔹 Listen deeply. Sometimes, recognizing the question behind the question or concern behind the statement is crucial for meaningful dialogue.

8. Become a Strategic Thinker

🔹 Keep the big picture in mind when working on a project, problem-solving, or innovating. Your ability to align actions to team or organizational goals demonstrates that you are a strategic thinker.

🔹 Develop the ability to see opportunities and potential risks, and make decisions with long-term goals in mind.

🔹 Be able to speak to your organization’s vision and how your work ties into it.

9. Be Accountable and Take Ownership

🔹 Demonstrate responsibility for your actions and decisions.

🔹 When things go wrong, own up to mistakes and focus on finding solutions, rather than placing blame.

🔹 Show that you’re reliable and can be trusted to follow through on commitments.

10. Exude Calm in Crisis

🔹 During challenging situations, stay composed and project a positive attitude to inspire the same in others.

🔹 That said, be transparent. Being positive about the future doesn’t mean denying current realities.

🔹 Be solution-focused rather than dwelling on problems, and try to motivate your team with a sense of optimism about what can be accomplished.

“When you have to deliver some difficult news either to your team or to the broader organization, ensure that you share what you can with a level of empathy, trust, and compassion.” 
— Monica Poindexter

Final Thoughts . . .

During the PowerSpeaking Live! in which we focused on powerful presence, both Julia and Monica stressed the importance of self-care as a way to maintain and energize your sense of value and powerful presence. 

This is so important, and it can take many forms.

Self-care means making sure you are in a work environment that recognizes your value and entitlement to equal opportunities. It also means taking care of your health and well-being during times of crisis or while caring for others. It means being aware of who you are at your core and how you can be at your best when it counts.

I love how Julia put it:

“What is it that you need to fill your cup in order to be who you want to be for those important high-stakes moments?”  — Julia Kraft

The goal of cultivating a powerful presence should be to authentically and effectively connect with others to work toward the greater good. I hope the insights and practices in this blog help you do just that, at work and in your community.

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