Developing a Powerful Speaking Presence

Last week, a client came to me frustrated. She’d been rehearsing a presentation for weeks her slides were polished, her content airtight but every time she practiced, something felt off. “It just doesn’t land,” she said. “It’s clear… but it’s not connecting.” I smiled. I’ve heard that line more times than I can count. So instead of tweaking her script, I handed her a tool that changed how I coach presence: 🎧 The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane https://amzn.to/4nDXhuR We listened together to one of the opening sections. Within minutes, Lisa Cordileione’s narration had slowed her breathing, her shoulders dropped, and she started actually feeling her message again. I told her, “Let’s not fix your words yet. Let’s fix your state.” Over the next week, we practiced a few principles from the book not as “performance hacks,” but as access points to real, embodied influence. Here’s what I coached her through (and what you can try too): 1️⃣ Charisma isn’t a personality; it’s a practice. You can train presence, power, and warmth the same way you train muscle memory. 2️⃣ Presence comes first. Before you speak, give yourself one minute of undivided attention: feet grounded, eyes soft, breath steady. Your nervous system sets the tone before your words ever do. 3️⃣ Regulate your body to regulate the room. A slow exhale, a taller posture... people feel it instantly. 4️⃣ Your tone, pauses, and silence shape influence. Try one deliberate pause after a key sentence and watch how the energy shifts. 5️⃣ Warmth amplifies authority. Influence isn’t about dominance. It’s about safety. When people feel seen, they follow naturally. 6️⃣ Authenticity is your anchor. Don’t imitate charisma; embody it. Alignment reads louder than performance. 7️⃣ Stories do the heavy lifting. A short, vivid story builds trust faster than any data slide ever will. 8️⃣ Small, repeatable habits build real magnetism. Two micro-practices a day, presence and breath, compound faster than hours of rehearsal. By the time her event arrived, nothing in her slides had changed but everything about her presence had. She didn’t just deliver a talk. She held the room. If your next presentation feels technically sharp but emotionally flat, don’t add more polish. Add presence. Start with one minute before every conversation. Notice how your body settles, your voice deepens, and people lean in differently. That’s the difference between speaking to a crowd… and captivating them.

I was easily the shyest boy in school by a mile. But wanting to be a barrister meant that had to chance, fast. By understanding the key characteristics that academic studies have identified as central to charismatic speaking, speakers can refine their approach to deliver more impactful and memorable speeches. 1. Authenticity: The Foundation of Influence Research by Kouzes and Posner (2002) in "The Leadership Challenge" emphasizes that credibility, derived from authenticity, is the foundation of leadership. Audiences are more likely to be persuaded by speakers they perceive as genuine and honest. 2. Confidence: The Power of Presence Confidence is another key attribute of charismatic speaking, supported by a wealth of research. According to a study by Tskhay and Rule (2014), published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, confidence is often inferred by an audience from nonverbal cues, such as posture, gestures, and eye contact. The concept of "power posing," popularized by Amy Cuddy's research, also highlights how body language can influence both the speaker’s confidence and the audience’s perception of the speaker. 3. Audience Connection: Engaging with Relatability Connecting with the audience is a hallmark of charismatic speaking. Academic research highlights the importance of understanding and addressing the audience's needs. A study by Burgoon et al. (1990) on interpersonal communication found that effective speakers use adaptive communication strategies to engage their audience. This includes adjusting one’s speech based on audience feedback, which can be nonverbal (e.g., body language) or verbal. My approach in Parliament was to maintain eye contact and use inclusive language, which fostered a sense of connection and made the audience feel involved in the discourse. 4. Emotional Appeal: Harnessing the Power of Emotions The role of emotions in persuasive speaking is well-established. Research by Chaiken (1980) in the Heuristic-Systematic Model of persuasion demonstrates that emotional appeals can be more persuasive than purely logical arguments, particularly when the audience is less motivated to engage in deep processing of information. Similarly, the study by Barge and Oliver (2003) highlights how stories and metaphors, which evoke emotions, can make a message more memorable and impactful. In my speech, I utilized storytelling to humanize the policies under discussion, tapping into the audience’s emotions to create a lasting impact. 5. Vision: Inspiring Collective Action Articulating a clear and inspiring vision is essential for charismatic speaking. Research by Conger and Kanungo (1987) in their Charismatic Leadership Theory suggests that effective leaders articulate a vision that not only aligns with the audience’s values but also presents a compelling future state. This vision serves as a rallying point, inspiring collective action.

You can be a decorated leader, a senior officer, or someone who’s briefed presidents—and still bomb behind a microphone. Speaking is not leading a formation. It’s not giving a PowerPoint. It’s not telling people what they should care about. Professional speaking is a craft. And the moment you confuse rank with relevance; the audience tunes out. This is a critical lesson you learn Left of Leadership: your title gets you in the room, but only your preparation and command of the craft keep you there. Here’s what I’ve learned: ► Respect the audience. The best speakers know how to listen before they ever speak. They study the crowd. They don’t dust off an old slide deck. Every audience is different — respect their time and speak to them. ► Earn attention. Don’t expect it. You’re not owed the room just because you have a title or a resume. You win their attention by showing up prepared, focused, and delivering what matters to them. ► Executive presence. Own the stage before you open your mouth. Stand tall, hold eye contact, project confidence. If you don’t command the room, the room will command you. ► The power of tone and pause. Charisma isn’t about volume — it’s about rhythm. Change your pace. Pause on purpose. Let silence carry weight. Some of the most powerful moments in a talk are the ones where you say nothing. Being a great leader doesn’t make you a great speaker. But if you’re coachable, humble, and willing to work at it—you can become one. I’ve seen plenty of senior leaders walk on stage thinking the room owes them something. It doesn’t. Earn it. Every room. Every time.

Stop Performing, Start Leading: The New Art of Executive Speaking Why today’s leaders don’t need to sound perfect, but they must sound real. When I coach senior leaders on public speaking, I often start with this reminder: “Communicating is about creating belief AND connection.” That line usually lands with a pause. Because for many executives, speaking has become another performance metric — practiced, polished, and a little too perfect. Somewhere along the climb, the focus shifted from connection to control. But the most powerful communicators aren’t the most theatrical. They’re the ones who sound centered: calm, clear, and fully present in the moment. You can hear it in the tone, see it in their eyes, and feel it in their pauses. I once worked with a CFO preparing for a major town hall where he had to deliver bad news on urgent cost-cutting measures. His slides were sharp, but his voice was distant. I'd characterize it as more quarterly report than rallying call. I asked him to set aside the script and tell me why this meeting mattered to him personally. He hesitated, then shared that he’d grown up watching his parents worry about layoffs, and his goal was to make work more stable for families like theirs. That story changed everything. He knew his numbers cold, he was articulate, but what we worked on from that point was sculpting his talk to be more authentic, more human. When he stepped on stage, his purpose and motivation compelled the room to lean in. The news landed more gently because his humanity showed up with it. So if you’re preparing for a high-stakes moment — a keynote, investor briefing, or company meeting — remember this: presence isn’t about just being flawless. It’s about being felt. Try this: ·       Start by asking yourself, “Why now?” ·       Give your message room to breathe: pauses create credibility. ·       Connect by sharing a story that shows what you stand for. When you do, your message will sound confident AND carry conviction.   If you’re an aspiring C-suite leader ready to speak with more clarity, calm, and conviction — I’d love to hear your story. What’s the next message you want people to truly believe?

We’ve coached thousands of speakers on building confidence. Most of them weren’t missing natural-born ability or charisma. But they were missing a clear understanding of their unique perspective. Confidence isn’t about knowing you’ll perform perfectly in a presentation. It’s about knowing you have something valuable to offer before you ever say a word. So my experts started asking our clients 4 simple questions: 1. How do you see this situation differently? Different from your peers. Your managers. Your customers. You don’t have to be loud, but you do have to know what angle is uniquely yours. 2. What experience do you have that no one else has? No one else grew up exactly like you, worked the jobs you did, or made the mistakes you’ve made. Your path matters. 3. What’s your expertise? Yes, you have some. If you’ve been invited to a meeting to share or someone asked you to speak on a stage, it wasn’t random. There’s a reason. Find it. Name it. Own it. 4. What part of your personality shows up when you’re at your best? Are you warm? Funny? Analytical? Direct? Good. Bring that. Don’t leave your personality at the door. It’s part of your power. Most people have enough confidence buried somewhere deep inside them. Crystallizing your perspective is what helps bring it out. #PresentationSkills #ExecutivePresence #ImposterSyndrome #PublicSpeaking

🎤 What’s Your Public Speaking Superpower? 🌟 The influence you have as a leader is directly connected to how effectively you communicate your thoughts, ideas, priorities, and strategies. This is crucial in everything from high-stakes meetings to speaking on stage. If you're dedicated to strengthening your public speaking skills—and you should be if you speak publicly—here are key superpowers to develop: 1️⃣ Superpower: Reading the Room. As a good public speaker, it's important to know whether your audience is engaged. Are heads nodding and are people taking notes? Or, do they appear confused, disinterested, or restless? 🧐 🔍 How to Build This Superpower: Pay attention to body language and facial expressions. Adjust your tone and pace based on the audience's reactions to keep them engaged. 2️⃣ Superpower: Limited Use of Filler Words. Frequent use of "uh," "umm," "so," and "you know" can undermine your credibility. These filler words detract from the strength of your message. 🗣️ 📖 How to Build This Superpower: Practice your main talking points. Focus on memorizing your opening and closing to ensure a strong start and finish. We all use filler words, but preparation can help you reduce your reliance on them. 3️⃣ Superpower: Inspiring Action. Your audience should know exactly what to do next with the information you've shared. Tracking the actions and outcomes linked to your directives shows the impact of your presentation📈  💡How to Build This Superpower: Clearly define and communicate the next steps. Follow up on the implementation of these steps to measure the effectiveness of your message. 🌱 Personal Highlight: Some of the best work I've done this year has involved one-on-one coaching with leaders to strengthen their public speaking skills. I create a safe space where leaders can practice all aspects of presenting, from developing their message and presence to refining gestures, voice modulation, and communicating emotion. The transformation I've seen in just a few sessions has been inspiring! What tips or strategies have you found helpful in improving your public speaking skills?

I was standing in front of 5,000 people and said, “Good morning, so happy to be here —” And my voice cracked. It came out raspy, high-pitched, and weak. I was out of breath. My voice quivered. It took me five painful minutes to find my vocal stride. Here’s the truth: You can have the perfect words, but if your voice sounds tight, breathy, or shaky (hello vocal fry), your charisma disappears. And a bad vocal first impression? You almost never recover from it. That’s why I now do a 5-step vocal warm-up before every meeting, presentation, or speech where I’ll be speaking for more than a few minutes. Here’s the one I use (and you can too): The 5-Step Vocal Warm-Up 1. Loosen Up + Shush Shake out your shoulders, relax your neck + jaw, and take deep belly breaths (shoulders stay down, hands on belly like it’s a balloon filling with air). Then exhale like a librarian “shhh.” Pump the shush to wake up your diaphragm and lungs. It takes ~1 minute. 2. Tongue Trills Yes, it sounds silly. But rolling your R’s (brrrrr) loosens your tongue. Do it descending, then ascending (repeat 5 times each). 3. Hum It Up Hum low and high to warm up your vocal cords. Keep your jaw and cheeks loose, don’t press your lips. Hold it, then go up and down. Do ~5 reps each way. If you’re speaking in the morning, this is essential. 4. Chant Start with a hum, then open into: “Me, My, Mo, Mu.” Go up and down until your sound is clear and resonant (not raspy). 5. Pronounce Add crisp consonants for clarity: “Ma-Pa-Ta, Ma-Pa-Ta.” Open your mouth wide, exaggerate sounds. Repeat 5-10 times. In less than 5 minutes, you’ll sound clear, confident, and powerful. Check out this video to learn more vocal warm-up exercises: https://lnkd.in/gh4jzfEG

Is executive presence speaking louder? OR taking up more space? I used to think it was. Boy, was I wrong. In my early career, I thought confidence meant pushing myself to speak up more. So I forced it. I mimicked extroverted leaders. I tried to be someone I wasn’t. Sure, I looked more engaged. But inside? I felt exhausted. Disconnected. Like I was playing a role that wasn’t mine. That’s when it hit me: Speaking up isn’t about volume. It’s about impact. Real executive presence is built on something deeper: 🔹 Clarity – Knowing what to say and how to say it with precision 🔹 Conviction – Owning your message so people trust your words 🔹 Control – Speaking with calm authority, even under pressure So I stopped forcing confidence and started building it—on my terms. And that’s exactly what I teach my clients today. The transformation? They don’t just sound more confident. They are more confident. They don’t just get noticed. They get heard. Because executive presence isn’t about being the loudest in the room. It’s about being the most compelling. P.S. What’s been your biggest struggle when it comes to speaking up? Let me know if the comment section below ⬇️ #ExecutivePresence #LeadershipDevelopment #IntrovertedLeaders

How to speak with authority—without sounding arrogant. Let’s face it: Confidence can inspire. But unchecked, it can also alienate. In leadership, in sales, in public speaking—your tone matters as much as your content. So how do you communicate expertise, conviction, and clarity—without coming off like a know-it-all? Here’s the balance the best communicators strike: ✅ 1. Speak from evidence, not ego. Back your points with experience, data, or real examples—not just opinions. Instead of “I already know this won’t work,” try: “Here’s what we saw last time we tried a similar approach—and what we learned.” You’ll sound seasoned, not superior. ✅ 2. Own your ideas—without shutting others down. Use confident language ("I believe," "The data suggests") but invite perspective ("What’s your take?", "Is there something I’m not seeing?") Collaboration isn’t weakness—it’s what makes you credible. ✅ 3. Let your tone match your message. A calm, measured voice goes further than aggressive volume. You don’t need to dominate the room to own it. Pause often. Speak with purpose. Earn attention—don’t demand it. ✅ 4. Share the why, not just the answer. People don’t just want direction—they want to understand your thinking. Explaining your rationale builds trust and reduces resistance. When people see your logic, they’ll follow your lead—without needing to be convinced. ✅ 5. Be firm, not final. You can take a stand without pretending you have all the answers. Confidence is: “Here’s what I believe and why.” Arrogance is: “This is the only way.” Leave space for dialogue. That’s where respect is built. You can sound credible without sounding closed-off. You can be certain without being superior. And when you strike that balance—you don’t just talk. You lead. What’s helped you develop presence and authority without crossing the line into arrogance? Let’s trade notes. ------- ♻️ Found this helpful? Repost or share it with someone who needs it. 👉 Follow Cade Bergman for more honest insights and practical motivation.

🎤 "From stage fright to spotlight: How I went from bombing my first speech to coaching clients for their keynotes. My 3-week formula for presentation success..." As someone who has delivered countless presentations, I've developed a 3-week formula for conference success. Let me walk you through my process and share some insights I've gained along the way. 3️⃣ Weeks Out: • Outline key points - I identify 3-5 core messages I want the audience to remember • Create an inspiring mood board 🖼️ - This helps me visualize the presentation's tone and style. This also provides me with inspiration. 2️⃣ Weeks Out: • Craft presentation draft - I focus on creating a coherent narrative flow • I aim for 1 slide per 3 minutes of allocated time - This ensures I don't overwhelm the audience with information and also allows me to read the room if certain topics create more engagement • Weave in a compelling narrative arc - I use storytelling techniques to engage listeners. Villains, Heroes, Fairy Tale Endings! 1️⃣ Week Out: • Polish transitions - Smooth segues between topics to maintain audience attention and keep the presentation from feeling choppy • Perfect timing ⏱️ - I practice with a timer to ensure I respect the allotted time slot 2️⃣ Days Before: • Full run-through with notes 📝 - This helps identify any weak spots in the presentation and ensures I have notes for a fallback 1️⃣ Day Before: • Practice without notes - This builds confidence and improves natural delivery • Familiarize myself with the venue - Understanding the space helps me plan my stage presence ⏰ Day Of: • Don't overprepare the day of - you got this and last-minute changes can trip you up • Nail the first 30 seconds - A strong opening sets the tone for the entire talk • Smile and get comfortable on stage 😊 - Positive body language helps connect with the audience ✅ Pro Tips: 1. Use bullet points, not complete scripts. This keeps delivery natural and engaging. I've found memorizing word-for-word can lead to stilted delivery if I lose my place. 2. Be authentically you. Your unique perspective is your superpower on stage. Audiences respond to genuine speakers who share personal insights. 3. Incorporate audience interaction. I like to include a brief Q&A session or a quick poll by hand to keep listeners actively engaged. 4. Leverage the power of pause. Strategic silences can emphasize key points and give the audience time to absorb information. 5. Prepare for tech issues. I always assume the presentation won't work and I will just have to speak to it as a worst-case scenario. 6. Connect with other speakers. Networking at conferences can lead to valuable collaborations and future opportunities. Remember, public speaking is a skill that improves with practice. Each presentation is an opportunity to refine your technique and connect with your audience in meaningful ways. #PublicSpeaking #PresentationSkills #ConferenceTips #ProfessionalDevelopment #SpeakerPrep #StagePresence