Taking Up Space

Being seen as a leader doesn't happen by accident. It happens by showing up, speaking up, and staying consistent.

Some people walk into a room, and everyone notices. Others walk in and... don't. This isn't magic. It's not even charisma in the mystical sense. It's a set of choices, practiced until they become a habit.

Taking up space isn't about being loud. It's about being intentional about your presence—physical, verbal, and strategic.

The Permission Paradox

Here's a strange truth: nobody gives you permission to be a leader. But many people wait for it anyway. They wait for the title. The invitation. The nod from someone more senior.

That permission never comes. Leadership presence is something you claim, not something you're granted.

Start acting like you belong in the room before anyone confirms that you do. The confirmation often follows the behavior, not the other way around.

Physical Presence Is Not Optional

Your body speaks before your mouth does. Crossed arms. Hunched shoulders. Eyes that dart to the floor. These signals broadcast uncertainty, regardless of what words you're saying.

Taking up space means literally taking up space. Shoulders back. Feet planted. Eye contact held a beat longer than comfortable. It feels strange at first—until it doesn't.

This isn't about dominance. It's about showing, through your body, that you're present. That you're engaged. That you have something to contribute.

Speaking Up (And Being Heard)

There's a difference between talking and being heard. You can fill air with words and still leave no impression. Or you can say three sentences that change the direction of a meeting.

The secret? Fewer words, more intention. Before you speak, know why you're speaking. What point are you making? What do you want people to take away?

Then say it clearly. Without qualifiers. Without apologizing for having a perspective. "I think" is fine. "This might be wrong, but maybe I think possibly..." is not.

Consistency Creates Visibility

Showing up once doesn't build presence. Showing up consistently does. Being the person who always contributes. Who always has something valuable to add. Who can be counted on to engage thoughtfully.

This is the long game of visibility. Not a single performance, but a pattern that becomes reputation. Over time, you become someone people look to—because you've trained them to.

It starts with a choice, repeated until it becomes identity: You are someone who takes up space. Act accordingly.