Own the Room: The Unseen Skill That Gets You Noticed
By Guest Writer
Dee Raviv
Every day, talented professionals get overlooked in meetings, passed over for promotions and underestimated by decision-makers. Not because they aren’t qualified. But because they don’t look, sound, or feel like leaders in the moments that matter most.
Executive presence is the leadership quality no one told you about. People decide if you’re leadership material in just 7 seconds. Executive presence is how you take those seconds- and every moment after – and turn them into influence. This isn’t about charisma. It’s about presence. And it’s costing brilliant people real opportunities.
In over 25 years as a senior executive in large-scale organizations, I’ve seen this firsthand. I’ve watched soft-spoken experts get ignored, while others rose simply because they projected confidence and gravitas.
According to the Center for Talent Innovation, executive presence accounts for 26% of what it takes to get promoted. More than IQ. More than skills. Yet most people don’t even know what it is.
Here’s the truth: executive presence is hard to define. Often described as "you know it when you see it," it feels elusive—but it’s learnable. Presence is a set of cues. Master them, and you change the way people respond to you.
The Core of Executive Presence
Executive presence has three main components:
Gravitas (67%) – It’s the confidence you exude in your demeanor, how you act under pressure, it’s about treating others with respect, being empathetic and inclusive
Communication (28%) – Speaking with confidence and in a concise manner as well as actively listening to what is being said
Appearance (5%) – Looking polished, professional, and comfortable in your own skin. It’s about how you present yourself at the workplace.
Sheryl Sandberg put it best: “Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.”
Want to Be Taken Seriously? Start with These Steps
1. Own Your Voice Before You Own the Room
People notice how you speak before they remember what you say. Your voice conveys authority, clarity, and confidence. A shaky, uncertain tone undermines even the smartest message. If your voice trails off, if you speak too fast, or if you pepper your thoughts with qualifiers like "I think" or "maybe," it can make you sound unsure—even when you're right.
Actionable Tip: Practice speaking slower and pausing more often. Confident people don’t rush. They give their words space to land.
2. Presence Begins with Posture
The way you sit, stand, and move shapes how others perceive you. Your body language should say, "I belong here." Slouched shoulders, fidgeting, or avoiding eye contact can all signal discomfort or lack of authority. On the other hand, a calm, open posture communicates that you’re centered and confident.
Actionable Tip: Walk into every room with your shoulders back, head up, and eyes forward. Then take a beat before you speak.
3. Speak in Headlines, Not Paragraphs
Rambling kills credibility. The most respected leaders make their point clearly, then stop. They let others absorb the message. People tune out when you're long-winded. Worse, they lose confidence in your judgment. Brevity signals clarity.
Actionable Tip: Before any meeting, write down your key message in one sentence. Lead with it.
4. Make People Feel Seen
Executive presence isn’t just about how people see you — it’s how you make them feel. When you show up with full attention, people notice. In a distracted world, focused attention is rare. It creates trust and opens doors.
Actionable Tip: In your next interaction, ask someone a question and genuinely listen. No checking phones. No planning your next line.
5. Carry the Room, Don’t Control It
Presence is not dominance. It’s a calm, confident energy that draws people in. You don’t need to be the loudest voice to have the strongest presence. In fact, trying too hard to dominate can backfire. People follow presence, not pressure.
Actionable Tip: Focus on your breathing before high-pressure moments. Inhale slowly for four counts, exhale for four. Ground yourself.
Step Into the Room Like You Belong—Because You Do
Executive presence isn’t about pretending to be someone else. It’s about showing up as the most powerful, intentional version of who you already are. Pick one skill. Practice it daily. Speak up. Stand tall. Be the calmest, clearest voice in the room.
The next time you walk into a meeting, a pitch, or a conversation, don’t wait for permission. Own the room.
