By Dominic Colenso, who is an international speaker, communication coach and the author of Cut-Through: The pitch and presentation playbook.
Playing the leading role: How to deliver when all eyes are on you
When I was shooting the film Thunderbirds, the late Bill Paxton gave me a piece of advice that has stayed with me ever since. He said, “Honour the audience.”
Cut-Through and play the leading role
Bill had starred in some of the biggest films of his generation, yet he was meticulous about understanding who the film was for and what they expected from it. His point was simple. When you’re in the spotlight, it’s very easy to think you’re the most important person in the room. In reality, the audience is.
That lesson applies just as much in business as it does on screen.
When leaders speak, whether it’s in a pitch, a town hall, or a project update, all eyes are already on them. Playing the leading role in that moment isn’t about commanding attention or dominating airtime. It’s about taking responsibility for how the message lands.
One of the most common issues I see in tech companies and SMEs is leaders over-relying on content. They build detailed decks, share reams of information, and hope that clarity will emerge. But clarity doesn’t come from volume. It comes from intention.
In my first book, IMPACT: How to be more confident, increase your influence and know what to say under pressure, I suggest that intention is the first ingredient of effective communication for a reason. Before an actor steps on stage, they’re crystal clear on what they are there to do. What should the audience feel? What energy do they need to bring to the scene? They understand their role in the narrative.
Leaders face the same challenge. If you can’t clearly articulate what you want your audience to know, feel, or do after you’ve spoken, your message will lack focus, no matter how strong the strategy is.
Once intention is clear, presence becomes critical. Presence isn’t charisma or confidence in the traditional sense. It’s the ability to be fully there, especially when the pressure is on. On stage, that comes from breath, posture, and focus. In leadership, those things are vital too. They show up in how calmly you speak, how well you listen, and how much space you give others.
People read these signals instantly. If a leader looks rushed or distracted, the room becomes unsettled. If they’re grounded and attentive, trust builds. This isn’t about personality. It’s about presence and awareness of the signals you’re sending out.
That’s where preparation comes in. In acting, rehearsal isn’t only about memorising lines. More importantly, it’s about creating enough familiarity with the material that you can respond naturally in the moment. The performances that look most relaxed are usually the most rehearsed.
In my latest book, Cut-Through: The Pitch and Presentation Playbook, I describe this as drilling the moments that matter. Your opening words. Your closing message. The question you hope doesn’t get asked but probably will. Leaders who do this work show up calmer, clearer, and more credible. Those who don’t often feel exposed when things don’t go to plan.
Importantly, playing the leading role doesn’t mean being centre stage all the time. The best leaders, like the best actors, make the people around them better. They shine the spotlight on their teams, create clarity about direction, and help others understand where they fit and why their work matters.
When all eyes are on you, your job isn’t to perform harder. It’s to serve better. Be clear on your intention. Show up with presence. Prepare properly. Do that, and people won’t just hear your message. They’ll buy into it.
Dominic Colenso is an international speaker, communication coach and the author of Cut-Through: The pitch and presentation playbook.
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