You walk into the boardroom and heads swivel. When you open your mouth, people lean forward and latch onto your every word. Hours and days after their conversations with you, people are still reeling about your message. That’s what it looks like to “own the room.” That’s what it looks like to have executive presence, which you can have at any level in your career, not just executive level. “Owning the room” means it’s easy for you to captivate people’s attention, engage with them, and inspire them to action. However, at Finka Inc. I describe it differently…
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Find out what it really means to “own the room” and do it like a pro with three simple primers by tuning into episode 199 of the Your Brilliant Difference Podcast.
Own the Room Meaning
What it really means is making space for others in the room, whether it’s a boardroom or a Microsoft Team’s call.
Owning a room doesn’t mean speaking above others or having control with an iron fist. It means you’re being intentional with your presence (how you’re showing up) to focus on the outcome you’d like to create for people you’re speaking with.
The Foundation is Your Brilliant Difference
In my own career, I closely relate the skill of executive presence and “owning a room” to presenting. Much like a formal presentation or keynote, even in a meeting, your body mannerisms and how you say things (as well as what you say) matter.
I believe that when you can present effectively, it heightens your ability to communicate, influence, motivate, and inspire others.
So, when I was in my corporate career, I sought training and support in this area. I enrolled in Gail Larsen’s program, Transformational Speaking, and while I thought it would consist of technical aspects and how to put a PowerPoint together, I was surprised—pleasantly.
Instead, the program focused on finding your “home zone,” which I call Brilliant Difference. She taught that when you speak with confidence and adequacy in who you are, understanding that you bring particular gifts, talents, and expertise, that’s when everything clicks into place. That’s when you know exactly where to stand and how to manage your hand gestures and movements.
So, when it comes to owning the room, when it comes to having executive presence, your number one priority is to shift to being in alignment with who you are over what you are there to do. The more interested and invested you are in the impression you’re making, the farther away you will get from your Brilliant Difference, and as Gail calls it, your home zone.
How Do You Own the Room? 3 Primers
Now that you’ve set your foundation, you’re ready to use my three primers to own your room. These primers are essential to put into place before situations like:
- Meeting a new client or closing a sale/deal.
- Interviewing for a new role in your company or career.
- Gaining buy-in for a new initiative.
Essentially, by preparing yourself with these three primers before every important situation, you set yourself up for success to flex your executive presence and design ideal outcomes for everyone at the table.
Primer 1: Set the Intention
“How you do one thing is how you do everything.”
How you show up matters. When you know how to present yourself, it becomes a whole lot easier to know what you’ll say, the tone you’ll use, and the mannerisms you’ll incorporate to resonate, connect, and inspire people.
Don’t flounder in discomfort and uncertainty. Get confident by asking yourself these three intention-setting questions to own your presence:
- How do I want to show up?
- What kind of energy do I want to bring?
- What outcome or experience do I want others to have who are in the room with me?
Primer 2: Define the Stakes
Whether it’s a sales pitch or job interview, several people will be affected or have stakes in the situation.
I remember having high-stakes presentations. Getting on stage in front of thousands of people can be intimidating. I’ve also been in front of audiences that were not the traditional environment I worked in, which was analytical and technical. It made me ask, “How do I connect with people who are different from me and have different backgrounds and experiences?”
I’ve also had moments where I’d be doing proposals and sales presentations where I really wanted to work with a client. It helped me learn how to balance my confidence and stay unattached to the outcome (no matter how much I wanted it) so I wouldn’t repel them.
It’s an art, a balance, but one you can master by defining three stakes in your important situation:
- What’s in it for me? Name and own the goal you hope to achieve. The clearer you are with yourself about your expectations, the easier it is to detach from the outcome. It prevents you from hiding behind your ego. There’s no hidden agenda.
- What’s in it for them? Identify what people get to be, do, and have more of because of your solution and presence. Focus on what they get out of the deal, you moving to a new role, or saying yes to a new initiative. Understand what matters to them and highlight the value they’ll receive that aligns with their own goals.
- What’s in it for the world? Every action you take has a reaction. Even the smallest pebble dropped into the ocean has a ripple effect. Zoom out and understand how your presence will impact people even after they leave a meeting or presentation, and how the impact you have on them will impact others they live and work with. How do you want that to look? For example, through my Brilliant Difference methodology, I help people align with who they are so they can show up more authentically in the workplace and contribute meaningful results.
Primer 3: Bring Your Brilliant Difference
Speaking of Brilliant Difference…we’ve come full circle, reinjecting the importance and foundation of your executive presence.
Owning a room comes down to your energy and spirit, which means embodying your Brilliant Difference fully and whole-heartedly.
Your Brilliant Difference is your God-given gifts that no one else has. He gave them to you because he said you’re going to go and do something with them.
And so, as you approach your meetings, as you’re being invited to strategic decision conversations where your opinion and perspective will be shared and valued, I want you to lean on your Brilliant Difference. I want you to ask yourself:
- How can my Brilliant Difference add value?
- How can my Brilliant Difference help my team today or solve a problem we’re struggling with?
- How can I lean on my Brilliant Difference to support my department in achieving our goals?
3 Action Items to Help You Own Your Room
- Set your intention. Envision how you want to show up in any given situation.
- Define the stakes. Understand the goals and values of those you’re speaking with, including yourself, so you can detach yourself from the outcome and focus on the transformational process.
- Bring your Brilliant Difference. Be authentic and bring your whole self to discover how you can best serve others.
Be the first to hear about more leadership development strategies and tips, like the three executive presence primers, by joining my Find Your Brilliance community.
