Taking Possession of a Room

Numerous times when I have been hired to find an executive for an organization, the client has said, "It's not on the job description, but we need someone who can 'take possession of a room'." What they mean is someone who can command, and hold, the attention of an audience. It's the "and hold" that is the tricky part.

It is totally unjust, but in employment tall people fare better than short people especially when it comes to salary. I have also found that they have an easier time gaining possession of a room than their shorter counterparts. I can't prove it, but it is safe to assume that when someone who is six feet or taller walks into a room, they are immediately noticed. Not so much someone who is a foot shorter!

Moreover, as noted in the above cited article, there is a psychological advantage to being tall. Always, literally, looking down on people can build confidence. You cannot take possession of a room if you lack confidence.

That said, you may be confident, but it has to be based on more than height. I can remember being in a lecture where the speaker was well over six feet tall. He told a very good joke that held our attention on him until he started the substantive part of his presentation. As you may have already guessed, it was far from substantive. Despite his height, by the end of his talk he was speaking to a room that was more than half empty.

On the other hand, I attended a sales presentation where the speaker was barely four feet tall. Obviously, everything had been planned in advance otherwise he could have seriously injured himself.

The man ran into the room, up the stairs to the stage, across the stage to the podium (which, for obvious reasons, he could not use), jumped up (here's the dangerous part), grabbed the microphone from the stand, landed squarely on his two feet, and made a self-deprecating joke which (a) made all of us laugh and (b) eliminated any discomfort someone might have had because of his size. It was a perfect beginning.

He then gave a masterful presentation. It was entertaining, informative, instructive and educational (no doubt three synonyms for the same thing, but who cares?). Unlike the previously mentioned speaker, this man was able to hold possession of the room, keeping his audience in their seats.

It's not a matter of size or physical appearance. It all comes down to being confident and having that confidence justified. To be blunt, an idiot may be confident, but they are still an idiot. Confidence is a very appealing characteristic, but it has to be warranted. If you are confident, and have the skill set to express it and the track record to justify it, taking possession of a room will be second nature. This is true when speaking to an individual, a small group of people (such as during a job interview), or an auditorium with standing room only.

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