Isobel Rimmer is the founder of Masterclass Training and an experienced business leader, coach, and speaker.
Over the past 25 years, she has designed award-winning leadership and management programmes for global organisations including PwC, IBM, Accenture, and BNP Paribas, as well as public sector bodies such as the NHS and Local Authorities. She has coached leaders in business and politics, including a former UK Deputy Prime Minister, and helped thousands of professionals communicate with confidence and impact. A regular media commentator and conference speaker, Isobel is author Present with Presence: Everything you need to plan, prepare and deliver with impact in any situation, published by Rethink Publishing.
It can be hard to stand out in the often male-dominated world of tech, to get your message heard and make the impact you want.
But once you learn how to ‘own the room’ – indeed ‘own the Zoom’- through subtle shifts in body language, voice and word choice, you’ll start to see a real difference.
According to Albert Mehrabian, people form first impressions based not just on what we say (7%) or how we talk (38%) but largely on how we come across – what our body language and non-verbal communication is saying (55%). To make matters more challenging, women are often scrutinised more than men, meaning we must balance our warmth, credibility and authority in every interaction.
They say you never get a second chance to make a great first impression. That’s not strictly true – we can and do change opinions – but it is an uphill battle. People justify their initial impressions, which makes it all the more important to get our body language right from the start.
The Science of Presence: What Your Body Tells Your Brain
Feelings follow behaviour. When we act in powerful physical ways – stand tall, shoulders back and our elbows out to the side, we take up more space and we feel more powerful, too. Amy Cuddy’s famous TED talk, Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are, watched over 75 million times, shows that holding a Power Pose for just two minutes makes a difference. For example, The Wonder Woman stance – feet hip width apart, shoulders back, hands on hips – increases your levels of testosterone (making you feel more powerful) whilst reducing cortisol, the stress hormone. Hold for just two minutes, and the benefits last for nearly twenty.
Learn from the experts and try these tips from TV presenters and newsreaders:
BBC: Bottom to Back of Chair. Position yourself as far back in your seat as you can whilst keeping your feet flat on the floor. Don’t cross your legs. Avoid perching on the edge of your chair – nervous speakers do this as it allows them to ‘escape’ more easily when fear kicks in.
Elbows Out. When anxious, we instinctively pull our elbows in to make ourselves smaller. Sitting or standing, take your elbows out to the side and create a small ‘gap’ under your armpits. This reset opens your chest, improves breathing, and signals confidence. Neurologically, these micro-adjustments calm your nervous system and override anxiety, setting you up for success.
Confident people take up more space and step forward to connect, often initiating a handshake. Nervous people hold back, and even if it’s only for a second, that hesitation transmits their fear. Watch how world leaders move towards each other on the red carpet – each with their hand extended, each seeking to have the power.
Virtual Gravitas: Translating Presence to the Screen
With remote work so widespread, we’re all on camera now, making “virtual presence” essential, whether in a meeting, interview or pitch. To look good, ensure your camera, whether integrated to your computer or separate, is at eye level. Use a stand or stack of books if needed and look directly at the camera rather than the gallery of faces on your screen. If you’re tempted to look at people, do so briefly and then revert to your camera. And, if you want to project confidence and authority, always keep your camera on.
Nod and smile – animation and expression convey interest. Every time you look away, check your emails or look at your phone, you hint at disinterest. Tempting though it might be, retain your presence by maintaining your eye contact and avoid being the one who’s ‘on mute.’ Virtual fluency conveys confidence.
Building presence doesn’t require a grand overhaul or major changes. It’s important that you stay real and authentic – small, consistent habits create sustainable body language that oozes confidence. Walk purposefully into meetings—even virtual ones. Slow down if you need to. Excess adrenalin will make you speed up eroding your posture and composure. Grow tall, look to your colleagues or to camera, and smile.
These micro-habits help you feel and appear more engaging. With repetition, they become second nature, rewiring your muscle memory so confident presence becomes effortless.
Be Authentic
Powerful body language isn’t about performance and theatre, it’s about alignment. The most credible people are those whose inner confidence matches their outer presence. For women in tech, gravitas isn’t about imitation; it’s about harnessing physical presence with authority and learning to dial up your energy just when you need to.
Observe your own patterns and use your body language as a tool for self-expression and career growth rather than a test to be “passed.” Every purposeful gesture, BBC, solid stance, good eye contact and well-timed, genuine smile, reinforces your credibility and influence.
Make your body language work for you. Focus on it every day until it becomes instinctive, helping you project the presence and gravitas you deserve, whatever the situation.
