Something fascinating happens when you sit in enough leadership rooms.
Last month, I watched a founder walk into a boardroom and own it within seconds.
No grand entrance. No power plays. Just presence.
Later, over coffee, she shared her secret: “Two years ago, I was the woman hanging back by the wall. Then I learned that presence isn’t something you’re born with – it’s something you choose to own.”
That conversation stopped me in my tracks.
Then I got curious about exactly how we can all do that. How as leaders and entrepreneurs we can transform own presence. Not through tactics or techniques, but through a complete shift in thinking.
And here’s what I discovered:
Taking your impact to the next level isn’t skill – it’s mindset.
To unpack that I started diving into neuroscience research, including MIT’s Leadership Centre, where they’ve found that leadership presence isn’t an inherent trait – but a result of specific mental frameworks.
Better yet? These frameworks can be learned.
Let me share six of these mindset shifts to help you create instant presence:
1. From Permission to Gravity
Old thinking: “I need approval to take up space.”
New framework: “My presence pulls opportunities toward me.”
How it works:
- Stop waiting to be invited
- Start sharing from your zone of genius
- Watch new opportunities come to you
A client recently shifted from chasing speaking gigs to becoming a sought-after expert by simply shifting her approach. “The moment I stopped waiting for permission to put myself out there” she told me, “was the moment next level opportunities arrived.”
2. The Alter Ego Effect
Old thinking: “I need to feel confident before I show up.”
New framework: “I can borrow certainty from my future self.”
The method:
- Choose a vision of you five years from now
- Step into their energy when needed
- Make decisions from their perspective
This is my secret weapon when I need to raise my game. Research from performance psychology shows that this type of visualisation not only changes your energy, but can also completely alter your biochemistry.
3. The Flamenco Principle
Old thinking: “Minimize yourself to make others comfortable.”
New framework: “Let your energy expand to fill the room.”
How it works:
- Allow yourself to become still
- Let your energy build
- Command attention by communicating with certainty
As a lifelong fan of flamenco, this process is described as ‘calling in the duende’ – the moment your passion and presence overtakes the room.
4. The Power Response
Old thinking: “Protect yourself from criticism.”
New framework: “All feedback is confirmation you’re playing a bigger game.”
Your new playbook:
- Choose the feedback you receive
- Celebrate criticism as proof you’re in the arena
- Remember most critics stay safely on the sidelines
Brené Brown described this mindset shifted perfectly when she said: “If you aren’t in the arena, also getting your ass kicked, I’m not interested in your feedback”.
5. The Upper Limit Flip
Old thinking: “This discomfort means stop.”
New framework: “This tension means breakthrough.”
The practice:
- Notice when you start feeling ‘too visible’
- Recognize it as your current edge
- Push gently but powerfully through
I see far too many experts freeze right on the edge of their comfort zone, thinking tension equals proof that they’re not ready. Instead, we need to reframe the inevitable ‘freeze’ moments as a signal that we’re on the right track.
6. The Presence Protocol
Old thinking: “Presence happens to me.”
New framework: “Presence flows through me.”
Daily practices:
- Actively set your energy before entering a room
- Choose an intention for each interaction
- Own your space as an expert
The next time you’re about to enter an important room, take five minutes to set yourself up for success. Listen to your favorite power song. Take some deep breaths. Own the energy you want to bring into the space.
Your presence transforms the moment you decide to own it.
These aren’t just theories. They’re battle-tested frameworks used by leaders who’ve made the leap from good to extraordinary.
So here’s the challenge, choose one mindset shift.
Practice it for one week. Notice what changes.
Remember: Extraordinary presence isn’t about becoming somebody else. It’s about finally showing who you really are.