Three “Powerful” Speaking Habits That Are Intimidating Your Audience

YOU CAN RADIATE AUTHORITY WITHOUT COMPROMISING ON WARMTH.
BY ANETT GRANT

The late Alan Rickman’s first appearance as Professor Snape in the inaugural Harry Potter movie finds him storming into Potions class. He strides up to the front of the room and glowers at the students, then launches into a no-nonsense monologue that quickly establishes Snape’s intimidating persona. He ends by targeting Harry personally, deriding him as “our new celebrity.”

Chances are you consider yourself a much warmer, more likable speaker than that–more of a Dumbledore than a Snape. But while you may not go out of your way to intimidate, some of the habits and techniques you’ve picked up might be creating a harsher impression than you realize. In fact, a few of the common tips for speakers, including how to come across as more “authoritative” and “powerful,” can actually backfire. Here are three you might want to avoid.

1. Blank Facial Expressions

It’s pretty easy to appear colder and more stern than you intend to. In fact, many speakers aren’t even conscious of when their facial expressions fall slack. Many people find speaking to be a daunting task, and, nervous about seeming like they don’t know what they’re talking about, they go too far in the opposite direction–formal, tensed up, wooden.

Or maybe it’s the reverse–you’re a comfortable speaker, and it’s just that you haven’t given your expressions much thought when you speak. So wearing a blank expression is just a habit of yours. Years ago, in fact, a client approached me for help making better connections with his audience. I thought he looked attractive, but as I watched him speak I realized his face wasn’t registering emotion. He was intimidating because he was totally hidden behind a blank expression. Later he mentioned a history of family trauma, where he’d learned to deliberately conceal his emotions.

That’s an extreme case, but for most people a little physical warmup can help. Get your facial muscles moving a few minutes before you have to get up and talk. Try squeezing your face together, crunching all your features up into the middle of your face–then release them. Do this a few times. Once you get the muscles stimulated and you practice making faces, you’ll discover over time that when you concentrate on what you’re saying, you won’t actually have to “emote”–your face will naturally convey more feeling.

2. Too Many Weighty Pauses

Yes, powerful speakers are articulate. They also know how and when to pause for dramatic effect. But when you have a difficult message to communicate, you might struggle to be precise. You pause to search for just the right word, the perfect way to position your point. And while you’re going through your mental edit, your audience is wondering what you’re thinking about. You may think those pauses add some gravity and drama to what you’re saying, but they’re wondering what’s wrong. Why are you being so cautions? Listeners may even find that intimidating, especially if you’re in a position of power.

The solution is to resist overthinking your word choices in the moment. Prepare thoroughly beforehand, then trust yourself to communicate naturally during your presentation. If you find yourself pausing too long, it’s better to keep talking–even if your phrasing isn’t perfect–than to create an uncomfortable silence that makes your audience wonder what’s wrong.

3. Overly Formal Body Language

When trying to project authority, many speakers adopt rigid, overly formal postures and movements. They stand ramrod straight, keep their arms close to their body, and move in stiff, controlled ways. While this might seem professional, it often comes across as cold and unapproachable.

The key is finding a balance between authority and warmth. Yes, you want to appear confident and in control, but you also want your audience to feel comfortable engaging with you. Allow yourself to move naturally, use open gestures, and let your body language reflect genuine engagement with your topic and your listeners.

Remember, the most effective speakers combine authority with approachability. By being aware of these potentially intimidating habits and making small adjustments, you can project power while still connecting warmly with your audience. The goal isn’t to be less authoritative–it’s to be authoritative in a way that invites people in rather than pushing them away.