Unlocking Charisma: Tips for Boosting Your Executive Presence in Presentations

When you hear the word "president," you might instantly think of someone like Joe Biden or Donald Trump. Even though they were the most recent presidents of the USA, my mind drifts more toward figures with truly inspiring leadership qualities, such as Obama, JFK, Martin Luther King, or even Gandhi. These individuals not only held leadership roles, they also inspired confidence and belief through their presence and actions.

In the corporate world, we refer to this kind of influence as "charisma" or "executive presence."

A lot of people ask me how they can become more charismatic when presenting. How can you show that executive presence?

While some might think charisma is something you're born with, I believe you can definitely enhance it with certain techniques in your presentations. We can take a few cues from Obama and other great leaders. Here are some tips to help you boost your charisma and influence:

Engage Emotionally and Visually

People respond well to hope and emotional connections. Use vivid imagery in your speech to stir emotions. For instance, Obama’s 2004 speech painted a picture of hope by mentioning "the hope of slaves sitting around a fire singing freedom songs" and "the hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes America has a place for him, too."

Use Alliteration

Alliteration involves repeating the same consonant sound at the start of closely placed words. It’s a classic technique that can make your message more memorable. JFK and Martin Luther King Jr. were masters of this. For example, Obama used alliteration in his 2004 keynote speech with "Do we participate in a politics of cynicism or do we participate in a politics of hope?" Similarly, you'll find alliteration in slogans like “The daily diary of the American dream” and phrases like “Prior preparation prevents poor performance.”

Employ Anaphora

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of consecutive sentences. It helps build rhythm and emphasises key points. Think of Winston Churchill’s famous line: “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds…” Or Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, where “I have a dream” is repeated to drive home his vision.

Incorporate Epistrophe

Epistrophe involves repeating a word or phrase at the end of each sentence or clause. Obama’s “Yes, we can” is a powerful example that rallied support worldwide. The repetition of “Yes, we can” in his speeches created a lasting impact.

Besides these techniques, remember that effective speakers like Obama also use crisp articulation, purposeful pauses, a strong posture, and direct eye contact.

Combine these techniques with dynamic vocal delivery, and you'll be well on your way to enhancing your charisma and executive presence.

Happy presenting!

For more information: https://michellebowden.com.au/power-of-charm-and-charisma/

?2024 MICHELLE BOWDEN is an authority on persuasive presenting in business. She's run her?Persuasive Presentation Skills Masterclass?over 1000 times for more than 13,000 people over the past 25 years and her name is a synonym for 'presentation skills' in Australia.

Michelle Bowden is a multi-million-dollar pitch coach to her client list that reads like a who’s who of international business: banking and finance, IT, pharmaceutical, retail, telecommunications plus many more.

Michelle is the creator of the Persuasion Smart Profile?, a world-first?psychological assessment tool?that reports on your persuasive strengths and weaknesses at work, the best-selling internationally published author of?How to Present: the ultimate guide to presenting live and online?(Wiley)?and her new book is called?How to Persuade: the skills you need to get what you want?(Wiley).?3