7 Tactics to Command a Room
Ricky Lien
Powerful Conversations: Speak Up, Listen Smart, Lead Influential Connections | For Leaders, Sales Pros, and High-Achievers
How do you command a room? Have you seen it done? Can you describe how someone does that?
I mean to command a room not because of the rank the person pulls, but by their behaviour and character? The entire room brightens up when they enter, doesn't it? There's a buzz of excitement, there's an anticipation of something new is going to happen at the meeting.
But why is this leadership skill so difficult to find and uncommon? Some people seem to do this so effortlessly, get attention, communicate clearly and bonds with a team. Others struggle to convey their points with clarity and seem to be more irritating than inspiring?
What exactly are some tactics you need to Command a Room?
Influential leaders seem to use these 7 tactics to command a room.
- You're punctual, never late. Being late means you give an apology as the first words you say. And you're already on the back foot. It doesn't put you in a strong starting position.
- You sit upright, sit squarely and look at all at the meeting and greet each one with a genuine smile before talking.
- You're there with intention. Your group can read it in your body language and facial expressions. Determined and powerful, yet strong and supportive to the group.
- You are up to date with any pre-work and know with no doubt in your mind you're the captain of the ship. There's little fiddling with your papers as you already know the agenda.
- You state the agenda, and the outcomes to be achieved by the end of the meeting. Your group already knows that from your pre-meeting agenda send out prior to this meeting.
- When you speak, you project your signature Voice with confidence to all in the room. Not shouting, not a raised voice, but projected with timber, vocal variety, and resonance to touch all in the room.
- Have an opinion backed up with data or empirical evidence. Be prepared to say why you think this way, but prepare to change your position if there is a better approach to the problem.
The ability to Command a Room - to have influence in meetings, especially with senior leaders present, is a critical stepping stone in your career.
Making your presence felt, speaking up and out is far more visible to senior leaders and the group than being an analyst, structural engineer, financial accountant or software engineer.
It makes sense to learn the skills of how to Command the Room.
What do you think?