The Silent Skill That Gets You Taken Seriously

⏳ Read Time: Less than 4 min.

I’m excited to welcome you back to another edition of The Winning Edge—your weekly shot of strategy, psychology, and inspiration to help you present, lead, and connect with real influence.

Let me ask you something:
Have you ever been in a room where someone spoke and immediately commanded attention—without even raising their voice?

That’s not charisma. It’s Executive Presence.

This week, we’re cutting through the fluff and diving into what really makes people take you seriously when you speak—even before you say a word.
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This Week’s Insights

✅ The Silent Skill That Gets You Taken Seriously—Why perception beats projection
✅ Gravitas in 10 Seconds—Reset your presence with a pre-speech ritual
✅ The Power of Less—How strategic pauses and fewer words build credibility
✅ AI Tool of the Week—Analyze your presence, tone, and pacing in real time

THE MAIN EVENT
🎤 The Silent Skill That Gets You Taken Seriously

You’ve probably heard: “Executive presence is hard to define, but you know it when you see it.”

Let’s make it simpler: Executive presence is what makes people trust you—before they even know you.

It’s not about being the loudest in the room. It’s about being the most anchored.

The Executive Presence Trifecta:

1️⃣ Gravitas—Speak deliberately. Use fewer (but better) words. Silence is your ally.
2️⃣ Composure Under Pressure—Stay calm when others can’t. Your steadiness becomes your strength.
3️⃣ Intentional Physicality—Purposeful posture, steady eye contact, and clean gestures. No fidgeting. No frantic pacing.

✨ Want a quick presence upgrade?

Before your next meeting:

• Pause. Breathe.

• Plant your feet.

• Decide your first sentence—say it in your head with weight.

• Then speak… slowly.

You’ll notice something powerful: You don’t have to do more to have more impact.

QUICK HITTERS: Fast Wins for the Week

💡 Tip of the Week:
Before a big conversation, ask: “What does the room need from me right now?”—and become that energy.

📊 Stat of the Week:
Professionals with high executive presence are 2.5x more likely to be seen as leadership material. (Source: Center for Talent Innovation)

🎭 Power Move:
When introduced, repeat your name with calm clarity. People trust voices that aren’t rushed.

📚 Recommended Read:
“Executive Presence” by Sylvia Ann Hewlett – A sharp, research-backed look at the traits that build perception and power.

WEEKLY DEEP DIVE
Why the Room Feels You Before It Hears You

There’s a moment—before you speak—when people decide how much attention and respect to give you.

We like to think it’s our résumé or speaking points that convince others… but science tells a different story.

👁 It’s visual and emotional.
In the first 7 seconds, your posture, facial expression, pace, and energy set the tone. And here’s the twist:

Your emotional state is contagious.

This is called limbic synchronization—a phenomenon where your nervous system sends subconscious cues that others mirror.

If you’re anxious? Others feel tension.
If you’re grounded? Others relax and tune in.
If you’re lit up with purpose? They lean forward and follow.

💡 Elite communicators don’t “fake” presence.
They generate it—from the inside out.
They start by aligning their body, breath, and belief before they speak.

🎯 Try This:
Before your next interaction, ask:

• What do I want this room to feel?

• How can I embody that first?

Presence isn’t about dominating the space—it’s about owning your energy in it.

AI TIP OF THE WEEK

🤖 Try “Poised” – Your AI Presence Coach

🔹 What it Does:
✅ Gives live feedback on your tone, pace, filler words, and energy on Zoom or video calls
✅ Tracks your communication growth over time
✅ Helps you sound confident, clear, and calm under pressure

🔗 Explore at Poised.com

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WINNING WITH AI: The Future of Sales Proposals and Presentations

AI isn’t just for tech geeks or big corporations—it’s transforming how we sell, present, and communicate. The best sales teams are already using AI to:
✅ Generate compelling, tailored proposals in minutes (not hours).
✅ Turn data into engaging, visual stories that capture attention.
✅ Automate tedious tasks so they can focus on closing deals instead.

This isn’t the future—it’s happening right now.

Get your copy of my ebook here!

ACTION STEPS & COMMUNITY QUESTION

🎯 This Week’s Challenge:
Before your next leadership moment—whether it’s a meeting, pitch, or tough conversation—do this:

Ask yourself:
“What’s the silent signal I want to send?”

Then breathe, slow down, and be that signal before you speak.

👥 Did it shift the room’s energy?
Hit reply and let me know—I’d love to hear what happened.

P.S.
Next week, we’re diving into Networking & Relationships—specifically, how to skip the small talk and build authentic professional connections that actually last. (Hint: It starts with one powerful, unexpected question.)

YOUR OPINION MATTERS!

If you have more feedback or just want to get in touch, respond to this email, and we’ll get back to you!

Thanks for reading!

Until next week!

Mary Beth