When Your Energy Leads the Room: What I Learned About Non-Verbal Presence
Oct 28, 2025I remember walking into work one morning already feeling the weight of the day.
My inbox was full, my deadlines were tight, and I had a meeting with my executive team in less than an hour.
By the time I sat down in that room, my body was in overdrive, tense shoulders, shallow breathing, eyes locked on my notes.
And without even realising it, I brought that energy into the meeting.
The Moment I Noticed
As the discussion went on, I could feel it.
The tone shifted. The room felt heavy.
Everyone became more task-focused, less open, less collaborative.
It wasn’t just my words, it was my posture, my tone, my presence.
To make matters worse, I made a quick comment about how overloaded I was — thinking I was just being transparent.
But all it did was derail the mood and take the focus off the team’s agenda.
That meeting went nowhere.
It wasn’t productive, it wasn’t inspiring, and it was entirely my doing.
The Lesson I Needed
What I learned that day was simple but confronting:
Your presence speaks before you do.
When we’re stressed or overwhelmed, it’s easy to think our internal state stays private.
It doesn’t.
Our teams feel it — in our body language, tone, and even the pace of our speech.
As leaders, our energy sets the emotional temperature of the room.
When we rush, the team rushes.
When we’re closed off, they shut down.
That meeting taught me to stop letting my stress lead the conversation.
The Shift That Changed Everything
Now, when I feel myself tightening or slipping into “get it done” mode, I pause.
I take one deep breath.
I drop my shoulders.
I lean back slightly and soften my focus.
And then I make warm, grounded eye contact before I speak.
It takes less than ten seconds, but it changes everything.
It’s not just about looking calm.
It’s about being calm enough for others to feel safe, seen, and open.
Because leadership presence isn’t performance.
It’s regulation.
What I Teach My Clients
When I coach leaders on communication and presence, we focus not only on what they say, but how they show up.
Your non-verbal presence tells your team:
- Whether you’re approachable or defensive
- Whether they can bring you problems or need to protect you from them
- Whether you’re leading from calm or reacting from chaos
Building presence starts with awareness of your breath, your body, and the energy you bring into the room.
Leadership Takeaway
Your energy leads the room long before your words do.
If you want to shift the tone, start with your posture, not your PowerPoint.
Before your next meeting, pause.
Take one breath.
Soften your shoulders.
Connect with eye contact before content.
That’s where real leadership presence begins.
Want to Go Deeper?
If you’d like to strengthen your leadership presence and learn how to communicate with calm confidence — even under pressure — download my free Heart-Centred Communication Playbook.
It’s filled with practical scripts, reflection tools, and leadership frameworks to help you:
- Lead with emotional intelligence
- Regulate your energy before you speak
- Build trust and connection through presence
Because the best leaders don’t just manage meetings — they manage their energy.
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