Pop quiz: If you’re addressing a room full of people, do you stand or sit?
Stand. Yes, even if you want it to seem casual and laid back. Yes, even if there’s another person there feeding you questions. Yes, even if you don’t feel like it and prefer to sit.
Here’s why. Imagine the room. It’s got, let’s say, nine tables in it arranged in rows. There are six or seven people at each table, and they’ve moved their chairs to face the front of the room where you’re speaking. Your chair is the same height as their chairs, and there’s all this other furniture, nine tables, between you and them. There are laptop and water bottles and bags on the tables. The chances that they can all see you easily, from each vantage point in the room, are slim.
Here’s why. You have more power when you stand. You are in charge of the room, so take charge of the room.
