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When you're not the main character, presence becomes your advantage.
by Drew Robbins
3 min read
Be Present
In rooms where you're not the expert, listening completely becomes your opening. Presence grows influence through clarity, timing, and care.
When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.
— Ernest Hemingway
In rooms where you are not the expert or the lead, that is your opening. Without the pressure to perform, you can notice who hesitates, where the energy drops, and which questions go unanswered. Small details, tone shifts, and unspoken concerns become visible when your attention is undivided.
Presence starts with removing distractions and letting the room breathe. You listen without planning your turn. You watch for what is not said and who is not heard. Afterward, a short follow up that names the real tension and asks one clear question can move the work forward. Influence grows not from volume, but from clarity, timing, and care.
Being present is rarely dramatic. Most of the time, it is built in small, ordinary moments. It is in simple conversations, in noticing what is behind someone's words, or by just pausing long enough to respond with care.
When has quiet, attentive presence shaped an outcome for you or your team?
— When No One's Keeping Score
Try This
In your next meeting where you are not leading, close your laptop, turn off devices, and listen fully to the end. Then note one unasked question.
Notice What Happens
Watch for shifts in tone, side comments, and who gets interrupted or goes unheard.
Share or Reflect
Send a brief follow up that names what you noticed and asks one clarifying question to move work forward.
Keep Going
Build a habit of concise follow ups that surface patterns and invite quieter voices into the next step.
If this resonates, share with your network so more people can turn presence into influence.
