Rituals of the Ready: How Confident Communicators Prime Their Presence

Think of the most captivating speaker you’ve ever seen. They didn’t just walk on stage and wing it—and they weren’t just good at memorizing lines.

They were present.
Grounded.
Clear.
Confident.

And I can almost guarantee they didn’t get that way by chance.

Because the most impactful presenters don’t just prepare their content—they prepare their presence.

Why Presence Preparation Matters

Here’s the truth: what you say matters—but how you show up to say it matters even more.

You can have the perfect script, beautiful slides, and solid data. But if you walk in flustered, rushed, or disconnected from yourself… your message won’t land the way you hoped.

That’s why confident speakers use rituals. Not superstitions. Not routines.
Rituals that help them get grounded, focused, and ready to connect.

In this post, I’m giving you a peek behind the curtain at three simple tools you can borrow and make your own.

Settle the Butterflies

You know that fluttery, anxious energy in your chest or stomach before you speak?

Use the following movement to move through that energy instead of being hijacked by it.

Try this:

• Roll your shoulders forward and back slowly.

• Shake out your arms and hands for 10 seconds.

• Stand tall, plant your feet, and take one deep breath.

This tiny physical reset sends a message to your body: you’re safe, and you’re ready.

It’s not about eliminating nerves—it’s about redirecting them into energy that works for you.

Mindset Priming

Most professionals don’t realize just how damaging their internal pre-game talk can be.

Things like:

• “I’m not good at this.”

• “Just get through it.”

• “Don’t screw it up.”

Your brain believes you—and it adjusts accordingly.

Mindset priming flips the script. Instead of self-doubt, you anchor yourself with a phrase that empowers and encourages.

Some of my favorites:

• “I am prepared. I am present. I’ve got this.”

• “They want me to succeed.”

• “I know more than I think I do.”

Say it out loud. Write it down. Repeat it until it sinks in.

Body Awareness: The Silent Confidence Builder

Your posture, your breath, even your facial expression—these are all signals that shape how you feel and how you’re perceived.

When you take a moment to become aware of your body, you take back control of your presence.

Ask yourself:

• Are my shoulders tense?

• Am I holding my breath?

• Can I relax my jaw, soften my hands, and take up just a little more space?

These tiny adjustments don’t just change how others see you.
They change how you see yourself.

Build Your Ritual

The magic happens when you combine these tools into your own pre-speaking ritual.

Before you walk into a presentation, a meeting, or a networking event:

1. Move your body (even subtly)

2. Say your grounding phrase

3. Check in with your posture and breath

It takes less than a minute—and can change everything about how you show up.

Want to Learn the Full Process?

Join me for a free 45-minute webinar that walks you through how to Prime Your Presence step by step.

🗓️ Monday, July 15 at 12:00 PM Eastern
🎟️ Click here to register

You’ll walk away with a repeatable process you can use before any high-stakes moment.

✨ And if you want to go even deeper…

The next cohort of my 5 S.T.E.P.S. to Speaking Success program begins September 17.
This small group experience includes coaching, practice, and a personalized plan to speak with confidence and impact.

The waitlist opens soon—be the first to hear when doors open!