Forget Executive Presence...Just Learn to Tell a Story

I never coach my clients on what some call “executive presence.” Instead I teach them how to tell stories. Describing and sharing a story that is important to you is the quickest way to gain and sustain great presence at the podium, in front of the room, or even sitting at a conference table. If you’re telling a story you believe in, your body language, your eye contact, your posture, your use of your hands, and your animation will be perfect for you and for the audience. You know how to stand. You know how to raise and lower your voice for meaning. You know how to look others straight in the eye.

Here’s what the “good posture, great eye contact” presenters know that you don’t know: They know when they’re in front of the room telling a story about something they really care about, they always automatically have great presence, posture and poise.

Most business professionals cannot emote on cue. People who can emote on cue are called “actors.” But even the most passive business professionals can get that fire in their eyes and quickly become engaging by telling a story about a person they believe in. If you’re telling a story about someone you see, someone you know, someone you care about, you will exude confidence and project an inspiring executive presence every time, in front of every audience.