Executive Presence: Own Your Space

Claim the Stage

More that any other speaker, she owned the stage. She commanded our attention. Yet she wasn’t a big person nor a threatening person. She wasn’t loud.

She told her story. She simply owned her space and was comfortable standing and moving about the stage.

She was a dancer not a speaker, yet she delivered her story well.

It was a TEDx talk and she was a dancer who told her story of challenges in developing her career as a professional dancer. Her skin colour worked against her when auditioning. Her skin was too dark. She wasn’t judged on her dancing skills but her shade of skin.

Stand Up to Challenges

Is presence the outcome of facing unfair challenges with a positive mindset? When we face challenges and struggle, we become more aware of our own vulnerability. When we face challenges and win, we become more confident in our own abilities and strengths.

Perhaps that unfair burden boosted her determination to be successful. She created and mastered her own style of dance so that she was now competing in a category of one. She no longer answered the cattle calls for auditions. Instead, she offered her unique dance style for the right market.

Is presence found after acknowledging one’s situation and developing your own approach to remedy that situation? Self awareness seems to be a key factor.

Move with Purpose

Perhaps that challenge and her determination led her to develop her stage presence. As a dancer she knew how to move with purpose and fluidity. As a performer she understood the importance of owning and using your space. She moved about the stage to use the full stage and clearly display her comfort and ownership of the stage. She was in her element.

Presence is immediately noticed in the way you own, claim and use your space. I wonder how many executives would sign up for a ballet class to develop their presence.

She didn’t stomp or bellow, “This is my stage”. She stood tall. She moved her arms and legs to envelop the space around her, and she moved with clear purpose. No hesitation in her movement nor wasted movement.

When you stand and speak, you’re being judged by how you stand and move because you are the most memorable visual. Perhaps you believed your slides were your visual. Guess again.

Does Your Body Convey Presence?

A professional dancer perfects their moves through practice and total body awareness.

How aware are you of your body posture and movement? Are you standing tall or slouching? What are your hands doing? How might your feet betray your lack of confidence? Are there nervous ticks and wasted moves detracting from your intended message and preferred image?’

Are you in control of your body or is it a slave to your anxiety? It’s your choice – lead or follow.

Claim your space and own the stage when you speak.