What turns experience and insight, into a presence? A feeling that this person is worth listening to, that they know what they are talking about. What makes you make this judgment before they have uttered a word/completed their first sentence? Is it the way they hold themselves with an air of authority. Is it their body language giving off confidence.

Is it their facial expression, reassuring and clearly listening. Is it the way they focus on whoever they are talking to making them feel at that moment the most important person in the room?  Is it the way they are dressed, professional but relaxed, comfortable in their own skin. May be some or all of these things but RADA believes it’s a performance that can be leant and a skill that can be taught! Are they right,  are effective leaders just very good at playing the part of an effective leader?

I originally trained as a teacher and a large part of teacher training is undertaken in the classroom on a practise placement. Basically you learn how to be a teacher by copying those already doing the job. You are expected to look like a teacher not a university student which extends to appropriate hair style , no jeans, a jacket and tie plus sensible shoes not comfortable trainers. You are expected to talk like a teacher, which can sound slightly condescending or sarcastic, no swear words.

You must learn to project your voice not shout and to adopt a deeper tone as this sounds more authoritative /like someone who is in charge. Most student teachers feel like an imposter during their training but once their doing the job for real the role becomes second nature. So the advice to those starting out is fake it till you feel it.