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Coaching Tool Guide – Developing Gravitas as a Leader
How to Build Gravitas as a Leader
Using Presence, Impact and Authority
First impressions matter. But lasting impressions matter even more. Gravitas is the quality that helps leaders hold attention, inspire trust and influence others with calm confidence. It’s not about being the loudest voice. It’s not about force. It’s about the quiet strength that people feel the moment you step into a space.
This guide reveals how to cultivate gravitas through three core forces.
Presence. Impact. Authority.
Master these and you reinvent the way people experience your leadership.
Let’s dive in. You’re about to discover practical coaching strategies that fortify confidence from the inside out.
1. PRESENCE
The Foundation of Gravitas
Presence is your anchor. It’s the energy you radiate before you speak. It signals steadiness. Confidence. Clarity. When leaders strengthen presence, teams feel safe and supported, even in moments of uncertainty.
Goyder’s principles align beautifully with this. She emphasises breath, posture and grounded attention as the roots of true gravitas.
Here’s how to coach leaders to construct presence.
1.1 Anchor the Breath
Presence begins with breathing that steadies the mind.
Guide leaders to pause for one slower inhale before speaking.
They begin to notice tension melt away.
Suddenly their voice feels fuller and calmer.
And they discover a new sense of control in conversations.
This practice builds trust internally.
It helps them tune into their natural rhythm.
Soon they find themselves leading with greater ease.
Coaching Exercise: The Centre Breath
Ask the leader to place a hand on their stomach. Invite them to take three deep, slow breaths, letting the breath drop low. Then have them speak a single sentence. Notice the difference. This technique grounds the voice and boosts clarity instantly.
1.2 Own the Space
Presence isn’t about size. It’s about settled energy.
Encourage leaders to plant their feet, lengthen their spine and allow stillness.
They stop fidgeting.
They inhabit the room with intention.
Team members sense this shift at once.
It sends a clear message.
It signals confidence without any theatrics.
People instinctively lean in.
Coaching Exercise: The Power Pause
Have the leader enter a room, walk to a spot and stand still for two beats before greeting others. This pause radiates composure and resets the room’s tone.
1.3 Set Clear Attention
Presence sharpens when attention is focused.
Guide leaders to give full, undivided attention to the person in front of them.
Their listening becomes deeper.
Their responses become more thoughtful.
They create stronger relationships because people feel valued.
This cultivates warmth.
It fosters trust.
And it enhances every interaction.
Coaching Prompt
Ask: “Where is your attention right now?”
Help them practise bringing attention back to the conversation whenever it drifts.
2. IMPACT
The Power of How You Communicate
Impact is about how your message lands. It's the reason some leaders inspire action effortlessly while others fight to be heard. Impact grows when communication becomes intentional, measured and emotionally resonant.
Goyder champions clarity, pacing and storytelling as powerful tools for shaping impact.
2.1 Craft Messages with Intention
Coaching leaders to slow down and plan their point transforms their presence.
They reveal the heart of their message without rambling.
They speak with clean, focused energy.
Clarity replaces clutter.
Conversations move forward faster.
Their ideas cut through noise.
And people feel guided rather than overwhelmed.
Coaching Exercise: The One Line Message
Invite the leader to summarise their point in one simple, punchy sentence. Everything else becomes supporting detail. This sharpens influence immediately.
2.2 Harness the Power of Pauses
Pausing is one of the most underrated leadership tools.
Teach leaders to punctuate their thoughts with intentional silence.
Their message suddenly breathes.
Listeners process more effectively.
The leader sounds more assured.
This subtle shift boosts authority.
It signals confidence.
And it allows their words to resonate.
Coaching Tip
Have them count “one-two” silently after important points. This strengthens vocal presence and anchors attention.
2.3 Shape Emotion Through Storytelling
Stories help leaders connect, inspire and shape how others feel.
Encourage leaders to weave short, relatable narratives into their communication.
They capture attention quickly.
They humanise ideas.
They shift conversations from transactional to meaningful.
They ignite motivation.
It fuels team spirit.
It supports long term engagement.
It turns messages into moments people remember.
Coaching Exercise: Story Spine
Guide them to fill in: “Once upon a time…” → “Then one day…” → “Because of that…” → “Now we…”
Short. Simple. Powerful.
3. AUTHORITY
The Quiet Power That Commands Respect
Authority isn’t dominance. It’s the calm assurance that signals leadership. True authority grows from authenticity, emotional steadiness and clarity of intention.
Goyder reinforces that authority is felt long before it is heard. It emerges from posture, belief and alignment.
3.1 Strengthen Inner Belief
Authority starts with mindset.
Coach leaders to notice their inner dialogue before key interactions.
They begin to recognise unhelpful narratives.
They replace them with grounded self-belief.
Their confidence amplifies.
Their tone shifts.
Their presence expands.
Soon they project calm certainty.
Coaching Prompt
Ask: “What would you say if you fully trusted your voice right now?”
This question unlocks authenticity and conviction.
3.2 Hold Boundaries with Warmth
Authority grows when leaders communicate limits with clarity.
Teach them to assert needs without aggression.
They protect their time.
They navigate conflict with grounded confidence.
They lead conversations instead of reacting to them.
This balance of warmth and firmness builds influence.
It fuels respect.
And it bolsters team trust.
Coaching Exercise: Boundary Scripts
Help leaders craft simple scripts such as
“I hear you. Here’s what we can do next.”
Short. Clear. Authoritative.
3.3 Stay Composed Under Pressure
Calm leadership transforms tense situations.
Coach leaders to return to their breath when emotions rise.
They regain control before responding.
Their tone softens.
Their clarity returns.
Teams breathe easier.
This behaviour becomes contagious.
It redefines the culture around them.
Coaching Tip
Introduce a “Reset Ritual” such as stepping back, breathing once and naming the emotion silently. It stops reactivity and builds powerful self-regulation.
Bringing It All Together
Presence + Impact + Authority = Gravitas
When leaders strengthen all three forces, gravitas emerges naturally.
Presence steadies them.
Impact amplifies them.
Authority grounds them.
The combination creates a leader who feels composed, credible and compelling.
Gravitas isn’t instant.
It’s built through practice.
It’s crafted through awareness.
It’s fortified through small shifts that accumulate into big transformation.
And the reward is powerful.
Leaders communicate with clarity.
They empower their teams.
They uncover success by showing up with calm conviction.