One of the biggest drivers of my businesses hasn’t been strategy decks or spreadsheets.
It’s how I show up.
Recently, I spent time with Adrienne Carter — her genius lies in translating human signals into practical advantage. It was a powerful reminder of something we all feel, but rarely articulate:
People decide how they feel about us before logic ever arrives.
I tend to plough straight in. I don’t consciously read someone’s face in a first engagement — I’m just me, take it or leave it. I trust my instinct to sense the impact I’m having… though I don’t always get it right.
Sometimes I’m not someone’s cup of tea. Sometimes I’m simply a lot. When I read that, I tone it down. What I believe is infectious enthusiasm has helped me immensely to break down barriers — but it still needs awareness.
And here’s why this matters.
We have 43 facial muscles capable of over 16,000 expressions, yet only around 100 words to describe how we feel. Emotion moves faster than language. Faster than reason. Faster than intent.
We jump at a film before reminding ourselves it’s not real — which is exactly why I don’t go. I’m too much of a chicken.
We buy from people we like, not just those who are right.
Sell the person. Sell a product you genuinely believe in.
And remember — even your feet tell tales through your stance.
We often misread a “neutral” face as disapproval, distance, or threat.
So make no assumptions.
Be yourself. Open. Warm-hearted. Not suspicious.
I suspect you’ll go further, faster, by giving to get — that’s what makes the world go round.
Neutral is rarely neutral.
And when we don’t realise the message we’re sending, others fill in the gaps.
Emotion is information. Every emotion carries a message:
· Sadness communicates loss
· Fear is protective — and often signals a need for reassurance
(Fear can save us. Enterprise fear of failure? That’s a big deal.)
· Frustration may simply mean we want to be heard
When we ignore emotions — ours or others’ — issues escalate.
When we acknowledge them, trust builds.
That’s why great leaders, founders, and salespeople don’t rush to fix.
They listen first.
People need to feel seen and heard before they’ll hear you back.
Body language builds trust — or breaks it.
A few simple but powerful cues:
· A smile increases trust instantly
· Eye contact signals presence (practice it — even in the mirror)
· Leaning in shows interest; leaning back can signal disengagement
· Chin level = confidence
· Chin down = submissive
· Chin up = condescending
And learning to pause — what Adrienne calls the power pause — can completely change how calm, confident, and in control you appear in any room.
Authenticity always wins. Most people aren’t as good at hiding their feelings as they think. How you believe you show up isn’t always how others experience you.
I was taught a long time ago: what I say is not necessarily what someone hears.
That’s powerful.
We build trust by being authentic, not perfect. Online is brilliant for efficiency — but in person is where relationships are built, teams are lifted, and belief is transferred.
Which leads to a question worth sitting with:
How much do you like yourself?
Because how you feel about yourself quietly shapes how others feel around you.
Your face.
Your posture.
Your presence.
They’re speaking long before you do.
So next time you walk into a meeting, a pitch, a shop floor, or a photoshoot, ask yourself:
How do I want people to feel?
Then let your body lead the message.
When dealing with “the suits,” stride bigger and bolder than you might feel.
Don’t dive straight for coffee.
Break into groups of three when networking — twos are intense; they lock eye contact.
Focus from a centred, mindful brand boosts your daily brilliance.
Lara Morgan