Every executive faces that pivotal moment: walking onto a stage with hundreds of eyes watching, waiting, judging. Your company’s reputation rides on the next sixty seconds. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
Yet most executives step into the spotlight woefully unprepared. They fumble with microphones like they’ve never seen one before. Their eyes dart nervously around the room. Their introduction rambles through irrelevant credentials that leave audiences confused about why they should even listen.
The difference between executives who command attention and those who lose it isn’t talent. It’s preparation.
Here are three essential steps that separate magnetic speakers from forgettable ones.
1. Master Your Microphone Before You Speak a Word
Nothing signals amateur status faster than wrestling with audio equipment on stage. The microphone isn’t just a tool—it’s an extension of your executive presence.
Arrive Early, Test Everything
Professional speakers don’t show up five minutes before showtime. They treat audio preparation like any critical business meeting.
- For major events: Arrive the day before to run full dress rehearsals. Fortune 500 companies we work with routinely send executives days in advance.
- For keynotes or panels: Arrive at least one hour early if you’re the first speaker. This gives you time to test audio, adjust to the space, and settle your nerves.
- For all speaking engagements: Request a sound check. Simply say, ‘Check, check, check one. Check, check. Sibilance, sibilance.’ That’s all you need.
Know Your Microphone Type
Lavalier microphones:
Clip these six to eight inches below your chin—never on your collar. Collar placement picks up every rustle of fabric as you move, creating distracting noise that undermines your message.
Handheld microphones:
Hold them exactly two fist widths from your mouth. Not pressed against your lips. Not waving around like a conductor’s baton. Steady, consistent, professional. This takes practice—schedule time specifically to rehearse your microphone technique.
2. Command Attention Through Strategic Eye Contact
Your eyes communicate more than your words ever will. They signal confidence or confusion, connection or detachment, authority or uncertainty.
Panel Discussion Strategy
When you’re not speaking, your attention matters just as much as your words.
- Focus on the moderator when they’re asking questions. This shows respect and helps you stay engaged with the discussion flow.
- Look at fellow panelists when they’re answering. Occasionally sweep your gaze across the audience to maintain connection.
- When it’s your turn, shift your primary attention to the audience. They came to hear you, not watch you have a conversation with the moderator. Glance at the moderator occasionally, but keep your focus on the people who matter most.
Keynote Presentation Technique
Choose three spots in your audience: left side, center, and right side. This isn’t about vaguely scanning the room—it’s about genuine connection.
Make a point while looking at one section. Hold that gaze. Connect with specific individuals, looking directly into their eyes. Then transition to your next point and shift to a different section. This deliberate pattern ensures everyone in the room feels your presence.
The Fatal Slide Mistake
Never turn your back to the audience to read your slides. This single habit destroys more executive presentations than any other mistake.
If you’re glancing at the screen every few seconds, you’re telling your audience that you don’t know your material well enough to deliver it confidently. Prepare thoroughly. Know your content so well that you can maintain genuine eye contact throughout. You can gesture toward the screen occasionally, but always return to face your audience. They came to see you, not the back of your head.
3. Control Your Introduction to Position Your Authority
Most executives make a critical error: they let someone else write their introduction. The result? Rambling credentials that bore the audience and waste precious seconds establishing why anyone should care.
Write It Yourself
Event organizers mean well, but they don’t understand your audience like you do. Take control by writing your own introduction and sending it to them in advance. You’ll prevent confusion, demonstrate professionalism, and ensure your credentials resonate with this specific audience.
The Three-Part Formula
Your introduction should accomplish exactly three things:
- State your current title and company. This establishes your current position and organizational context.
- Add one impressive credential that builds trust. Choose the single credential this audience will find most compelling. Not your entire resume—just the one thing that matters most to these specific people.
- Include one specific result that demonstrates your expertise. Numbers work best. Concrete achievements beat vague descriptions every time.
Example Introduction
“Jane Smith is the Chief Technology Officer at 123ABC Company, where she led the team that increased operational efficiencies and boosted revenue by 40%. She previously served as a technical advisor to three Fortune 100 companies.”
That’s it. No exhaustive list of every award you’ve ever won. No meandering through your entire career history. Tight, relevant, impressive. The audience now knows exactly why they should pay attention to you.
Transform Your Executive Presence Starting Today
These three strategies—mastering your microphone, controlling your eye contact, and crafting your introduction—separate executives who command stages from those who merely survive them.
The difference isn’t natural talent. It’s deliberate preparation. Top executives don’t wing their presentations any more than they’d wing a board meeting or investor pitch.
Start implementing these techniques immediately. Test your audio early. Practice your eye contact patterns. Write your introduction today. Your next speaking engagement is your opportunity to demonstrate the executive presence your company deserves.
Ready to Elevate Your Leadership Communication?
At Janicek Performance Group, we transform capable executives into influential leaders who command attention and drive results through powerful communication.
Our specialized training programs help you:
- Accelerate organizational growth through impactful leadership presence
- Command attention in any speaking situation, from boardrooms to conference stages
- Project confidence and authority that matches your expertise
- Drive innovation by communicating your vision with clarity and conviction
Contact us today to discover how we can help you transform from expert to influential leader.
