Presence in Practice: 3-Minute Insights

Executives know the pressure of standing in front of a room and delivering a message that matters. But too often, leaders unintentionally undermine their presence. The culprit? Slides.

When leaders focus more on the screen than the people, the audience checks out. Attention fades. Influence slips away.

That’s what happened to a senior VP during a quarterly review—until he made one powerful shift.

The Turning Point: From Slides to Connection

At first, the VP presented straight to the screen. He clicked through slides, read numbers, and kept his eyes fixed on the visuals. The room disengaged. Phones lit up. People stopped listening.

Then he changed course. He paused, looked up, and made deliberate eye contact with different people around the table. He slowed his delivery and spoke directly to the individuals in the room.

The transformation was instant. Phones went down. Attention returned. The energy shifted. Suddenly, the message wasn’t just heard—it was felt.

Why Eye Contact Elevates Executive Presence

Eye contact is one of the most powerful tools a leader can use in critical moments. It is the difference between speaking at people and leading with presence.

• Projects confidence and composure. Holding eye contact signals steadiness and control.

• Builds trust and credibility. Direct connection communicates authenticity and confidence in your message.

• Captures and redirects attention. Instead of letting the room drift, eye contact brings focus back to the leader.

In short: your slides can’t command the room—but your presence can.

A 3-Minute Practice for Leaders

Here’s a practical technique you can apply in your next meeting or presentation:

1. Pause before delivering a key point. A beat of silence builds anticipation and composure.

2. Look at three different people in the room. Hold eye contact briefly with each before continuing.

3. Deliver your point with a steady, confident tone. Your words will carry more weight because your presence anchors them.

This simple practice takes less than three minutes to apply and transforms how your message is received.

Closing Insight

Your slides don’t carry the message—you do.

Presence isn’t about showing more data or speaking faster. It’s about slowing down, connecting with your audience, and leading with influence.

Eye contact transforms passive listeners into engaged participants—and in critical leadership moments, that’s the difference between giving a presentation and commanding the room.

If you’re ready to foster greater presence and accelerate your growth, explore our executive coaching programs at Epiphany Professional Development.

Your next breakthrough may be just three minutes away! Contact us to discuss how we work with executives and their organizations to elevate performance.

👉 This is part of Presence in Practice: 3-Minute Insights, a 24-part series for executives and HR leaders to strengthen confidence, composure, influence, and communication in high-stakes situations.