Quick…
Name the most iconic character in the original Star Wars trilogy.
Darth Vader, right?
I remember my first trip to the drive-in when I was 6 years old. I was big-time. Out late at night. No parents around. Just my teenage sisters who had likely been bribed to take me and my brother out for the night. I loved it, until it got dark and Darth Vader got scary.
Or maybe you’re more of a Yoda fan? There’s a solid case for his quiet wisdom.
Either way…
Darth Vader spoke for a total of 34 minutes in the entire trilogy.
Yoda? Just 16 minutes and 30 seconds on screen.
Arnold Schwarzenegger had a grand total of 58 words in The Terminator.
“I’ll be back.”
Or Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men has one of the most quoted lines in movie history:
“You can’t handle the truth.”
And Vader?
Does heavy breathing count?
So what makes these characters so iconic?
It’s not what they say.
It’s how they say it. Or in some cases, just their presence on screen.
Presence
There’s a well-known study that shows when conveying feelings and attitudes:
- 7% of communication is the actual words.
- 38% is tone of voice.
- 55% is body language.
Amy Cuddy’s research at Harvard found that standing in a “power pose” for just two minutes boosts confidence and lowers stress in how others see you, and in how you see yourself.
Tip: Before an important conversation, stand tall, roll your shoulders back, and take up space. Your body tells your brain how to feel.
In the Silent TED Talk experiment, Researchers found that people could predict the most engaging speakers even when watching with the sound OFF. Why? Gestures, facial expressions, and movement.
Tip: If your body is stiff, your message will be too. Loosen up, use your hands, and let your expressions match your words.
The CEO Voice Study found that tone, pacing, and pauses matter more than the actual words. The best leaders speak steadily, with warmth and conviction – not rushed or hesitant.
Tip: Want to sound more confident? Slow down. Lower your pitch slightly. Cut the filler words.
Where Presence Fails…
Flashback to last week’s One Thing about that mediocre political debate.
The only thing more lackluster than the content was the presence on stage.
If you’re in an internationally televised debate, the stakes are high, right? The goal? Instill trust. Inspire confidence. Motivate action.
You can’t do that if your delivery has more the meekness of George McFly than the swagger of George Clooney.
Bottom Line?
Words matter. But how you say them matters more.
So next time you step up to speak – whether it’s a boardroom, a stage, or even just a tough conversation – own the room.
Your words will land only if your presence does.
As for me, I think I’ll practice a power pose for two minutes, then try to convince my cat that I’m in charge. Wish me luck. I think the cats have cornered the market on commanding presence until now.
Mary
P.S. We help visionary leaders and organizations achieve more impact through purpose, engagement and storytelling. When you’re ready, here’s how we can help:
- Build the story of your impact through Envision OnPrpose™
- Develop purpose-driven leaders and storytellers with Lead OnPrpose™
- Energize your people’s potential from the inside out with Engage OnPrpose™
- Amplify your industry voice through Influence OnPrpose™
P.P.S.
Check out past One Thing Thursdays here.
