The term “owning the room” is often used to refer to one’s ability to command the audience’s attention when making a presentation. As a keynote speaker, I am well aware of what that looks and feels like.
I also think that the term speaks to our ability to command the attention and respect of others– in essence, holding our own in any given situation—-not just a room, per se.
This is a very important skill for all of us to learn and develop as we try to effectively navigate our personal and professional worlds. Mastering this skill will help us to put our best self forward by projecting confidence, being charismatic, and remaining adaptable to the myriad of situations we will undoubtedly encounter.
Just in case you don’t see yourself as a person who can own a room at the moment, let me allay your fears. As I mentioned earlier, this is a skill. And like every other skill, it is something you can learn, practice, and eventually master.
Here are some ideas you can begin to implement:
Be prepared
Be sure to get some background information on the event and the people you are meeting with. In a job interview, for example, it would be helpful to know about the company and even the department you are seeking employment in. This kind of preparation will allow you to speak intelligently about how you could add value. The same is true of other business meetings but I would argue that it will also come in handy in social situations, especially if it is a crowd you are not accustomed to. 
Act confidently
The first time I can remember definitively owning the room, I was 19 years old. It was during the selection process to join the army. I had to give a three-minute impromptu speech on a one-word topic. I was given a few moments to collect my thoughts. When I walked back into the room, I wasn’t sure what I was going to say but I mustered as much confidence as I could and uttered, “gentlemen, the topic on which I will be speaking this evening is communism” and I just continued speaking.
What I learned from the experience is that if you act confidently, you will feel confident and you will project confidence which in turn will draw people to you.
Connect with your “WHY”
It is imperative to identify and connect with your “why” —the reason the goal you are seeking is important to you. Whether it is a social event, a sales call, a business meeting, Intensely connecting with those reasons allows you to show up with a sense of certainty, purpose, and determination.
Listen intently
Commanding attention doesn’t mean that you are the loudest, most gregarious person in the room. As the old saying goes, “you have two ears and one mouth because you are meant to listen twice as much as you speak”.
By listening keenly and asking questions, you demonstrate that you are interested in the other person and what they have to say. That endears others to you and it allows you to gain information which in turn allows you put your best self forward.
Keep On Pushing!
