Retaining your power in virtual communication means building a presence that resonates and holds influence, even from behind a screen. So, how do we adjust our approach to make sure our impact truly connects in virtual settings?

In this episode, Karin Reed unpacks what it takes to communicate powerfully online. Reflecting on a colleague’s observation that 80% of people appear significantly more powerful in person than online, Karin explains how small adjustments can elevate virtual presence. True influence in the digital space is created by intentionally shaping how you show up.

Karin shares five practices for retaining power online—from staying visible and speaking up to creating a warm, engaging atmosphere with small talk. Do you find it easy to connect through a screen, or does it feel like a barrier? Karin suggests that everything—your position on camera, lighting, sound, even background—impacts your digital impression.

Treating the camera as a direct link to others can transform virtual interactions and create a sense of connection and trust that feels almost face-to-face. Focusing energy through the lens is more than a technical adjustment; it can powerfully build genuine connections. For anyone aiming to leave a lasting impression in the virtual room, Karin’s insights offer a fresh perspective on communicating with strength and authenticity online.

Quotes

• “In order to be powerful in the medium that you have available to you, you have to understand that there’s nuance and things that you have to change in order to ensure that you can have as much presence as possible in the room as that room allows you.” (02:20 | Karin Reed)

Links

Connect with Karin Reed:

Website: www.speakerdynamics.com

Speaker Dynamics University: https://university.speakerdynamics.com/

Speaker Dynamics on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakerdynamics/

Karin Reed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-reed/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Why do some people command a room instantly while others struggle to be heard? Executive presence is often treated like a mystery trait, yet Chris Lipp argues it is rooted in something far more practical and trainable. It begins with personal power.

In this conversation, you will rethink executive presence from the inside out. Chris explains why titles and authority do not create real influence and how leadership communication starts with the belief that you can create impact. If you want more influence when speaking, especially when presenting to senior leaders, this episode will challenge how you show up and how you speak with confidence.

Chris breaks down the subtle habits that quietly erode executive presence, including blame, reactivity, over proving, and seeking approval. These patterns may feel safe in the moment, but they chip away at your credibility and authority. Through research and real stories, from Bob Iger taking responsibility early in his career to a teacher who diffused a violent threat through calm control, you will see how power is communicated long before you try to persuade anyone.

You will also hear how body language when presenting connects to mindset, and why non reactivity can instantly shift power dynamics in meetings. If you have ever felt small in a high stakes conversation, this discussion offers practical ways to reclaim control without becoming aggressive or performative.

Executive presence is not about dominating the room. It is about owning your responses, your words, and your internal state. When you strengthen executive presence, people listen differently and leadership communication becomes far more effective.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 Formal Power Versus Personal Power in Leadership

03:07 Accountability and Executive Presence at Work

07:12 Why Proving Yourself Reduces Influence When Speaking

10:43 The Four Behaviors That Weaken Executive Presence

16:22 Handling an Office Bully Without Losing Power

18:52 How to Gain Status and Influence in Meetings

22:28 Personal Power Under Pressure in a Crisis Situation

28:44 Strengthening Executive Presence From the Inside Out

Connect with Chris Lipp:

Visit the Speak Value website

Connect with Karin Reed:

Visit Speaker Dynamics

Explore Speaker Dynamics University

Follow Speaker Dynamics on Instagram

Connect with Karin Reed on LinkedIn

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“Leading yourself is about controlling the controllable. And sometimes that is your own mindset and only your own mindset,” says Elizabeth Lotardo, a consultant, LinkedIn Learning instructor, and author of “Leading Yourself.” She joins Karin Reed in this episode to talk about the power of self-leadership and how it enables anyone, no matter their role, to take charge of their work life. She focuses on the idea that while you can’t always control external factors, like your boss or workplace changes, you can control how you respond.

How often do we let external pressures dictate how we feel or perform? Elizabeth challenges that mindset and encourages listeners to focus on what’s within their power—shifting their perspective, building stronger relationships, and managing their own behaviors. She shares practical tips for dealing with things like micromanagers, fears about AI taking over jobs, and the stress of reorganizations, pointing out that a proactive mindset can change everything. 

This episode offers a simple but impactful takeaway: “You’re never powerless.” By leading yourself, you can take control of how you show up, even in tough situations. It’s a skill that not only helps you overcome the challenges of work but one that you can carry with you for life.

Quotes

• “Leading yourself is about controlling the controllable. And sometimes that is your own mindset and only your own mindset.” (02:34 | Elizabeth Lotardo)

Links

Connect with Elizabeth Lotardo:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethlotardo/

Website: https://www.elizabethlotardo.com

Connect with Karin Reed:

Website: www.speakerdynamics.com

Speaker Dynamics University: https://university.speakerdynamics.com/

Speaker Dynamics on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakerdynamics/

Karin Reed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-reed/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“What do Michelle Obama, Sheryl Sandberg, and potentially you all have in common? Imposter syndrome,” begins Karin Reed. She’s joined by Julia Korn, founder and CEO of The Authenticity Guide, to dive into how widespread imposter syndrome truly is—impacting 70% of people across all demographics. It’s a universal feeling, and Julia explains that—contrary to popular belief—imposter syndrome is not exclusive to women. This misconception arises from the term’s origins in a study conducted at an all-female university in the 1970s, which led to the mistaken belief that it predominantly affects women.

Karin and Julia talk about how increased self-awareness can sometimes make imposter syndrome worse that causes us to doubt our abilities even more. Julia offers practical tips for navigating these feelings, highlighting the power of vulnerability and taking small steps to build confidence. How can you embrace these moments of self-doubt and turn them into opportunities for growth? This episode encourages listeners to embrace imposter syndrome and turn it into a tool for building confidence through self-affirmation and solid preparation. Tune in to gain practical, useful strategies to foster authenticity and confidence in your professional life.

Quotes

• “Imposter syndrome goes beyond just a lack of confidence. It really is this deep feeling of phoniness, of feeling like you’re faking it, and of feeling unintelligent or incapable, despite evidence of high achievement. You might find that you’re highly motivated to achieve and have a lot of history of doing really well, but you still have this fear of being exposed as a fraud.” (01:43 | Julia Korn)

Links

Connect with Julia Korn:

Website: www.theauthenticityguide.com

Emerging Leader Collective Application: https://4mlz9tjnoss.typeform.com/to/eyTYdtxp?typeform-source=www.theauthenticityguide.com

Connect with Karin Reed:

Website: www.speakerdynamics.com

Speaker Dynamics University: https://university.speakerdynamics.com/

Speaker Dynamics on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakerdynamics/

Karin Reed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-reed/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Speaking Like a Leader is tested most when the stakes are high and emotions run stronger than we would like. In this conversation on leadership communication, Karin Reed sits down with Emily Gregory, co-author of Crucial Conversations, to explore why avoiding hard feedback quietly erodes trust. Speaking Like a Leader means stepping into discomfort instead of sidestepping it. If leadership communication is about building credibility and connection, then feedback is where it either strengthens or fractures.

If you want confident communication that allows you to give feedback without fear, this episode will help you rethink how you approach discomfort. Whether you are presenting to senior leaders, managing a team, or communicating with influence across a distributed workforce, the real differentiator is this: do people trust that you care?

00:00 What Defines a Crucial Conversation in Leadership Communication

Connect with Emily Gregory:

Visit Crucial Conversations for additional leadership tools

Read more on how to handle constructive criticism

Read the Harvard Business Review article on giving and receiving negative feedback

Visit Speaker Dynamics

Explore Speaker Dynamics University

Follow Speaker Dynamics on Instagram

Connect with Karin Reed on LinkedIn

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“Imagine what it’s like trying to keep people’s attention in a virtual meeting—one they might not be interested in, a meeting they might even feel they don’t belong in. Yet, there they are, and it’s your job to keep them focused and get business done,” begins Karin Reed.

In this episode, Karin addresses the challenges of keeping participants engaged in virtual meetings and offers practical strategies to maintain active involvement. The first step, she suggests, is to assess whether the meeting should even happen in the first place and offers two questions to ask to ensure that it does, based on insights from her co-author, Dr. Joe Allen, from their books Suddenly Virtual, Suddenly Hybrid, and Running Effective Meetings for Dummies. Dr. Allen suggests that in some cases, asynchronous communication may be a more effective option.

Karin emphasizes the importance of setting clear expectations from the start—defining the meeting’s purpose and agenda upfront and encouraging participants to turn on their cameras to enhance communication through non-verbal cues.

What can you do to make virtual meetings more dynamic? Karin suggests breaking content into smaller, manageable segments and incorporating interactive elements like polls, Q&A sessions, and chat participation. She also points out the value of allowing some non-business small talk, mimicking informal in-person interactions, which can help build rapport and lead to more meaningful contributions.

Another key tip? Start the call early and stay until everyone has left. This approach opens up opportunities for one-on-one interactions that might otherwise be missed. Karin stresses the importance of keeping participants engaged throughout the meeting, whether through discussions or interactive tasks.

Quotes

• “If a virtual meeting does not require input and interaction from your audience, don’t make people sit there and listen to you spout off that information. Send it out in a way they can consume on their own time without disrupting their workflow.” (03:12 | Karin Reed) 

Links

Connect with Karin Reed:

Website: www.speakerdynamics.com

Speaker Dynamics University: https://university.speakerdynamics.com/

Speaker Dynamics on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakerdynamics/

Karin Reed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-reed/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“Wouldn’t it be great if you had someone to guide you through writing your next chapter? Marcy Bullock is one of those people,” says Karin Reed in today’s episode of Speaker Dynamics - “Own the Room.” Joining Karin, Marcy emphasizes the importance of viewing life and career as a series of chapters, encouraging us to focus on “what’s next” rather than feeling overwhelmed by planning our entire future at once. How often do we burden ourselves with trying to figure it all out, instead of just concentrating on the next step? Marcy’s approach can help ease the pressure that many high achievers feel when facing major life decisions.

The episode delves into gender disparities in the workforce, with Marcy addressing challenges women face, such as unnecessary apologies, the struggle for equal pay, and the impact of the #MeToo Movement. Drawing from her experience teaching at NC State, she shares strategies for self-advocacy among women and marginalized groups. Despite progress, significant gaps remain in areas like parental leave and salary transparency. Marcy also uses a sports analogy to illustrate how cultural conditioning contributes to the confidence gap, with women often internalizing criticism while men tend to deflect it.

To help listeners overcome self-doubt and assert their worth, Marcy offers practical strategies—such as using data in salary negotiations and avoiding “glue work” that doesn’t align with strategic goals. She also emphasizes the importance of professional development and aligning your actions with your personal values. Marcy’s house analogy vividly illustrates how to prioritize your values, from foundational deal-breakers to minor preferences, urging us to focus on what truly matters.

Marcy leaves us with a powerful message: get out of your own way. She encourages us to treat ourselves with the same compassion we’d offer a best friend and to be intentional in our life choices. 

Quotes

• “I realized that any marginalized group needs role models, needs tools in order to be able to succeed. And so, I decided to design this course and after teaching it for a few years, it was one of the most rewarding things I did because I’m very excited about helping women to advocate for themselves, to get what they are worth.” (06:09 | Marcy Bullock) 

Links

Connect with Marcy Bullock:

Marcy Lee Coaching Consulting - https://sites.google.com/view/marcylee/home?authuser=0

Instagram - @marcyleecoaching

The Confidence Code - https://learnconfidencecode.com

Connect with Karin Reed:

Website: www.speakerdynamics.com

Speaker Dynamics University: https://university.speakerdynamics.com/

Speaker Dynamics on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakerdynamics/

Karin Reed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-reed/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Executive presence used to mean fitting a mold. Sound a certain way. Look a certain way. Smooth out the edges. Today, executive presence is rooted in authentic leadership communication. Instead of sanding down what makes you unique, she explains how leaning into who you are strengthens your authentic leadership communication and helps you communicate with influence.

Through real stories, Karin outlines five practical shifts. Show up as a whole person, not just a title. Help people understand why you lead the way you do. Listen to learn, not to respond. Speak in plain language that drives clarity instead of confusion. Stop overcorrecting every verbal stumble. Own your expertise while being honest about what you do not know.

This conversation is a timely reminder that confident communication is not about perfection. It is about presence. When you give yourself grace, you create psychological safety for others. When you admit you do not have every answer, you build trust instead of eroding it.

For leaders navigating today’s workplace, including those thinking about women and executive presence, this episode offers a grounded path forward. Executive presence is no longer about performance. It is about connection. When you lead from that place, your executive presence becomes both credible and relatable.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 The Shift in Executive Presence Toward Authentic Leadership

03:21 Why Being a Whole Person Strengthens Leadership Communication

06:02 Listen to Learn, Not Just to Respond

08:41 Speaking in Plain Language to Communicate With Influence

10:00 Why Confident Communication Includes Imperfection

12:45 Admitting You Do Not Know Everything Builds Trust

15:06 The Five Pillars of Authentic Executive Presence

Connect with Karin Reed:

Visit Speaker Dynamics

Explore Speaker Dynamics University

Follow Speaker Dynamics on Instagram

Connect with Karin Reed on LinkedIn

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

Hybrid meetings are not going away. In fact, hybrid meetings may become the most common format you lead this year. The real question is not whether you prefer them. It is whether you know how to run them well.

In this episode, Karin Reed sits down with Dr. Joe Allen, co-author of Suddenly Virtual and Suddenly Hybrid, to unpack the research behind hybrid meetings and why they can outperform both in-person and fully virtual formats when led intentionally.

Dr. Allen shares his research on five types of meeting participation: full participation, non-participation, pretending to participate, token legitimacy, and on-off participation. Once you understand these patterns, you see hybrid meetings differently. Engagement is not automatic. It must be designed.

The conversation moves beyond technology into meeting equity. Being seen and heard is not just about strong Wi-Fi or high-quality audio. It is about executive presence on video, thoughtful room setup, and avoiding the common trap of overlooking remote attendees. Karin explains how small adjustments in camera placement, body language, and facilitation dramatically shift connection across formats.

You will also hear practical guidance on:

Pre-meeting setup and connectivity

Assigning in-room allies to advocate for remote participants

Using clear agendas and defined roles

Structured follow-up and reinforcement

Dr. Allen also addresses the cost factor. One ineffective meeting often creates three more. When you calculate opportunity cost, poorly run hybrid meetings are expensive. Well-designed hybrid meetings, however, increase clarity, save time, and improve satisfaction.

If you lead hybrid meetings, this episode offers research-backed structure and facilitation skills that elevate participation, strengthen virtual communication skills, and improve leadership effectiveness across formats.

Episode Breakdown:

02:11 The 5 Types of Meeting Participation Explained

08:11 Research Findings on Hybrid Meeting Satisfaction

12:06 The Two Critical Success Factors: Being Seen and Heard

14:17 Meeting Equity and Executive Presence on Video

17:41 Common Hybrid Meeting Pitfalls and In-Room Allies

19:35 Post-Meeting Follow-Up and Accountability

20:41 The True Cost of Ineffective Meetings

21:52 Final Takeaway: Don’t Be Afraid of Hybrid Meetings

Connect with Dr. Joe Allen:

Visit the Joe Allen website

Connect with Karin Reed:

Visit Speaker Dynamics

Explore Speaker Dynamics University

Follow Speaker Dynamics on Instagram

Connect with Karin Reed on LinkedIn

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm

“It is critical that our digital impression is a good one, reflecting your personal leadership brand and your corporate brand,” says Karin Reed. Is your digital impression a good one? In this episode, Karin delves into the importance of creating a strong digital impression and maintaining a compelling virtual presence. She shares insights from her TV journalism career, illustrating how appearance and presentation impact audience perception.

Karin emphasizes that a good digital impression isn’t about vanity but about respect for the audience and distraction-free communication. She offers practical tips, covering essentials like background setup, lighting, audio quality, and camera positioning. Karin highlights the importance of an uncluttered background, proper lighting to allow the audience to read your facial expressions, clear audio, and eye-level camera placement. Additionally, she addresses the challenges of maintaining a strong digital presence while working from various locations, offering a bonus video on her website for finding the best lighting in any space.

This episode can be a comprehensive guide to improving your digital impression and virtual presence, with actionable tips for professional communication. Tune in to Speaker Dynamics for Karin’s expert advice on making a strong digital impression.

Quotes

• “First impressions matter. They matter a lot. And oftentimes, that first impression is delivered digitally. With us showing up so often via webcam, it is critical that our digital impression that we are giving off is a good one, that it’s a good reflection of your personal leadership brand and a good reflection of your corporate brand.” (00:00 | Karin Reed)

Links

Connect with Karin Reed:

Website: www.speakerdynamics.com

Speaker Dynamics University: https://university.speakerdynamics.com/

Speaker Dynamics on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakerdynamics/

Karin Reed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-reed/

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm