10 Tips for Creating a Powerful Presence

Are you an Industry Leader, an Influencer, a Head Turner?

10 Tips for Creating a Powerful Presence

• When you walk into a room do heads turn?
• Do people gravitate to you because of the energy that surrounds you?
• Do you exude an air of confidence and power?
• Do you have an aura of positivity and success? 
• Do people gravitate to you?
• Are you considered a leader a motivator?
• Do you inspire others? 
• Are you persuasive?
• Do you possess the gift of gab? 
• Are you a good listener? 
• How do you carry yourself?
• What is your persona, the image you portray? 
• How do you behave when you think no one is watching?
• Do you criticize or put others down?
• Do you gossip, or do you look for the good?
• Do you surround yourself with successful people who are on the same path of self-improvement?
• Do you seek to expand your vocabulary and knowledge base?
• Are you open to suggestions and advice?
• Are you coachable? 
• Do you smile and greet others, even strangers?
• Do you have a firm handshake?
• Are you approachable?
• Can you think and act fast on your feet?
• Do you get flustered or upset if things don’t go as planned?
• Are you flexible and go with the flow?

The perception of personal presence dictates decisions and actions every day. Buyers, customers, clients, make purchases based on the personal presence and persuasiveness of the salesperson. Negotiators with the strongest personal presence, and not necessarily the strongest argument, walk away with the best deals.

People size you up quickly and change their minds slowly. Researchers tell us that somewhere between eleven milliseconds and three minutes, people make judgments about who you are and whether they want to associate with you.

The Essence of Presence

Tip #1 – Personal presence is difficult to define. We know it when we see it. Someone walks into the room and people step aside. Heads turn. Conversation opens up to include them. When they speak, people applaud or chime in. When they ask, people answer. When they lead, people follow.

Tip #2 – People with presence are confident and comfortable. They speak clearly and persuasively. They think and respond quickly under pressure. They act with intention and purpose. People with presence adapt quickly. They accept responsibility for themselves and the results they achieve. People with presence are real. They present their genuine character authentically. What they say and do matches who they are.

Tip #3 – Pursuing your dreams with a powerful intention and sense of purpose, requires a call from within yourself to activate that desire. People who have presence have an inner radiance. They are comfortable in their own skin and content within themselves. They seldom react in haste. Their gestures are timed and controlled. They rarely seek approval from others, yet others seek approval from them. They are genuine and grounded.

Tip #4 – Maintaining presence is the outward reflection of your inner world. It is the frequency you transmit. You are the master and architect of your destiny. Posture and eye contact are key factors in exuding confidence. The eyes are the windows to the soul. When you speak to people, they search your face for your real motives. Direct eye contact is a sign of confidence and truth. When you look others in the eye while speaking, it gives a sense of absolute certainty to whatever you are saying.Presenting yourself in this way draws people in so they trust and view you as an authority.

Tip #5 – If you want to project power and confidence, you need to take up more space. Make yourself appear larger than life and claim your place in the world. Take larger strides when you walk into a room. Put your hands on your hips and stand with your feet apart. Sit tall with your head held high. Take up space with your arms. Place your elbows on the armrests of the chair. Extend your forearms along the length of the armrest. Allow your hands dangle over the edge. Lean back into your chair to show you’re relaxed. Never slouch. Always sit erect with a straight back. Keep your shoulders back and your head high.  Don’t look at the floor or downward with your eyes. Maintain eye contact at all times. Maintaining good posture and open body language projects power.

Tip #6 -Keep your hands above the table. Let your forearms stretch across the table directly in front of you. Hold a pen if it feels better, never fidget. When you place your arms outstretched on the table, you take up space and project confidence. By making your hands visible, you convey honesty and openness.

Tip #7 – Speak in low, authoritative tones. When it’s your turn to speak at a business meeting, or in a group, keep your head high and slowly turn your gaze from left to right. Look each person directly in the eye for a couple of seconds while you speak. Solid eye contact when you’re talking, portrays you as comfortable and confident about your statements and opinions. You aren’t afraid of others asking you questions. Smiling occasionally also helps you appear friendly and approachable.

Tip #8 – When standing – take up space with your stance. Stand with your feet about shoulder width apart, and place one foot slightly in front of the other. This is a classic power stance. With your feet firmly planted on the ground, you immediately appear solid, reliable and comfortable in your own skin and surroundings.

Tip #9 – Project power with your posture. Posture portrays confidence. Stand with your shoulders back, no slouching. Expand your chest, lift your ribcage and keep your eyes up. Hold this posture whenever you are standing. Practice this until it becomes second nature. Good posture portrays you are proud of who you are. You are not timid, shy or lacking in self-confidence.  It also helps take in more oxygen which fuels the brain.

Tip#10 – To have a powerful presence, you must walk the walk and talk the talk at all times and in all places, in your business, professional and personal life.