On Presence: 1 Move That Makes or Breaks Your Influence
Move 3 in the On Presence Series
In our last two posts On Presence, we focused on two critical moves:
But what happens once you begin speaking?
You can rehearse perfectly.
You can open strong.
But if you don’t adjust in real time, you’ll lose your audience and with it, your influence.
Even a well-delivered message can fall flat if it doesn’t meet the moment.
Presence isn’t static; it’s a dynamic skill you flex live.
🎯 78% of senior leaders recognize the importance of showing empathy but only 47% believe their organizations practice it effectively (HBR, 2021).
That gap shows up in customer meetings, product presentations, internal all-hands.
Responsive presence is how you close the gap by making people feel seen, heard, and led in real time.
Why This Matters
Most professionals deliver the same way, regardless of who’s in front of them or what’s happening in the room.
Same tone.
Same pace.
Same rhythm.
But top performers know better.
They practice responsive presence, which means they read the room, sense shifts in energy, and adapt their delivery in real time.
If your delivery doesn’t evolve with your audience, you risk:
Losing engagement halfway through
Missing emotional cues that signal when to pause or shift gears
Being perceived as distant or mechanical, even if your message is technically strong
Presence is more than delivery. It’s real-time leadership.
When you respond to the room, people feel seen. When people feel seen, your message lands with power.
Move 3: Responsive Presence
Great communicators don’t bulldoze through content; they lead the room as it evolves.
They don’t just deliver at an audience.
They deliver with the audience.
Responsive presence means tuning into the energy of the room, moment by moment and making micro-adjustments that keep people engaged, connected, and moved.
It’s not about perfection.
It’s about perception + adjustment in real time.
Your Moves
Here are your moves during your next big moment:
1️⃣ Watch, don’t just speak.
Notice: Is the room leaning in or pulling back? Are people energized or drifting?
2️⃣ Flex your delivery.
→ Pause when the room needs to absorb.
→ Accelerate when energy is diminishing.
→ Shift tone when emotional cues surface.
Responsive presence keeps you in sync with the moment and positions you as the leader everyone feels in command.
✅ Reflective Moment
When was the last time you paused mid-delivery not because you planned it, but because the room needed it?
What’s Next
🧠 Bonus Move for members: How elite communicators prepare behind the scenes to stay adaptive in the spotlight.
Presence isn’t just about showing up well. It’s about preparing so well you can stay agile, no matter what happens.
Watch for the bonus drop next week!
Go lead the room.
Joselle
Whenever you're ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:
Build a Magnetic Brand on LinkedIn
Get recruited and hired faster. This is for you if you want to attract the right roles without even applying.Prep for High-Stakes Moments
Big interview coming up? Board meeting or important presentation to lead? I’ll help you show up strategically and confidently so you move decisions forward.