Five Simple Gestures to Elevate Your Presence and Command Respect

Instantaneously commanding respect with a single stride sounds like something only actors or CEOs could do, right? Striding right into a room of eye-catching attention sounds intimidating, eh? However, the truth is, it’s not about having bank accounts loaded with cash, striking outfits, or high-end bags. Rather, it’s always about having purpose-driven micro-movements that express kindness, poise, and confidence. I fumbled through my etiquette lessons, dismissing socialite tips from fashionistas, who in my mind, needed to emphasize worthy outfits. Spoiler alert: It didn’t work out. Throughout my years of attempting to master getting noticed by incredible women, who seem to possess effortless charm and exuberance, I have distilled their poise, and presentable polish into five easy philosophy tips that can be implemented by anyone. Using the following strategies, regardless of your aesthetic or schedule, is sure to help you achieve a desirable demeanor that is truely cherished. So, ready to turn heads and finally gain the attention that is always denied to you? Let’s increase this attempt and make it fun.

1. Master the Art of Eye Contact.

Have البعض (al bab) ever stopped in your tracks just because appropriate eye contact is captivating? That’s the magic of eye contact. Rather, it’s about being engaged, caring and paying attention. It’s not about glaring someone in the face like it’s a duel to the death. Give it your best and I confess had terrible eye contact where I focused more on looking past people.

Then a mentor called me out on it (well, at least they were gentle), and I finally grasped how dismissive it must be to other people. 

This is the trick. When speaking to someone, be it a barista or a boardroom executive, maintain eye contact for four or five seconds and then look away for a natural break. A pro move? The triangle gaze. Direct your attention to the space within the triangle formed by the nose and eyes. It is less intense and still conveys, “I am with you.” At a recent charity dinner, I noticed one woman charm staff and VIPs alike by actively engaging every single staff member. Giving full attention to each individual is an inexpensive superpower. 

Are you concerned it will feel awkward? Start out by practicing with friends or even in front of a mirror. You will soon be able to convey this sentiment as easily as smiling. And of course, professional environments benefit from this as well—people remember the individual who made them feel acknowledged.

2. Embrace Strategic Silence

Do not even try to deny it: everyone has been part of a conversation where people are literally trying to speak over one another, and it is draining. The most interesting women? They know when to shut up. Strategic silence is not about being soft spoken—it’s about setting your timing for your moment to dazzle. I witnessed a woman at a dinner party sip wine and listen for twenty minutes. When she spoke, everyone at the table leaned in. She did not waste words, and so her words held value.

Now, consider the “3-1 rule.” Let three people speak before you speak. This places you in an environment where your contribution is bound to add value. Are you worried about being awkwardly quiet for too long? Silence is not empty; it is powerful, and silence shows you are bold enough not to fill gaps with trivial remarks. During an art gallery opening, I overheard someone nonchalantly sharing a random opinion about the artwork to a significant art collector standing a few feet away. Oops. Less is freaking more.

Look at this Instagram post of a poised speaker. She is for the most part, very still while waiting for her turn. It epitomizes for me mastering the ability to control the moment without uttering a single word.

3. Perfect Your Posture

I know “stand up straight” sounds like the sort of thing your mother would have told you, but back off and listen: posture is the advertisement of your body and screams confidence before even saying a word. I learned this the hard way at a wedding where I spilled red wine on my dress (absolute disaster). Instead of slumping in embarrassment, I kept my shoulders back smiling, and carried on. People didn’t notice the stain—they noticed my vibe.

Here’s the deal: Keep your head slightly lifted and your spine straight. Shoulders should also be relaxed. Even when getting a cup of coffee or scrolling through your phone, maintain this posture. Try not to cross your ankles when sitting as it’s schoolgirl-esque and only move with purpose. A former ballet teacher told me elegance comes from alignment, not rigidity. So, don’t tense up—consider it relaxed but intentional.

To use gentle reminders: set up a daily reminder to “check posture” at specific times. Personally, I attended a fashion event and her glaring posture throughout the entire event made her look as if she owned the room. Your body communicates much more than you think.

4. Touch with Intention

Your touch on objects such as phones and people reveal your level of confidence. If you touch your hair or adjust your neckpiece every few seconds, you are most likely feeling nervous. I, too, was a frequent hair twirler until I observed how women took care of their belongings with movement as though they were in slow motion. In an art gallery, there was this one woman that interrogative brushed her fingers over sculptures, claiming she would only use them upon receiving consent. The curator was thrilled.

Try implementing the “feather touch” technique, where you treat day-to-day items such as books and glasses like they are treasured possessions. It might seem out of the ordinary, but it will become involuntary at some point. Interactions with other people are also key. Keep respectful distance and avoid physical contact with quite a few people and acquaintances. Simple gestures such as a professional handshake, or even a light touch to the arm if the situation allows it, are more than enough. At a networking event, I witnessed a person lose all their credibility for repeatedly tapping a CEO’s shoulder. Yikes.

You can begin anywhere, to be honest. For instance, practice at home: purposely turn pages in magazines or sip from mugs gently. And there you go, without aiming, you have made a small change that produces great results.

5. Use Generosity with Low Key Flair

The actions taken by truly elegant people who possess etiquette skill are largely positive and powerful, even in the context of making people feel appreciated without children-like applause of “thank yous” or and applause showers. For example, I can vividly remember a woman from a social gathering who, as a polite side effect of her doing social herculean tasks, made certain every single one of the volunteers received a thank you card and note while another donor plastered her smile in front of journalists for pictures taken with her herculean donation cheque with a “giver’s smile.” You know who remembered infamously intimidated for some time? The soft spoken uh that is The Quite Helpful.

Generosity with a low-key twist is present in the form of: Volition Diligence Diary exercises. These delightful activities include recalling the surname of a pleasant colleague, sending a short note of thanks that is hand written widely known as handwritten and posted as people say along streets in mad dress Winter 1, or without someone asking for a catchy phrase, disposing a delicate remark regarding beauty’s warm embrace. Moreover, it is about being polite with the time and schedules of other – people’s time about pacing to arrive on time (= being punctual), ending encounters with words (brief sentences) within a prescribed or suggested duration, and taking a reasonable amount of time doing the replies. Further, my surprise gifts are handy like bookmarks, smaller than standard scissors, teas that are characteristic of a region, evt unexpected gifts that I invite such as ex-quote to merry p.

Having trouble knowing where to start? Kind gestures like smiling at the cashier, thanking coworkers, or holding doors for people require minimal effort. These small actions evoke an unforgettable feeling of class and warmth. Or as my grandma would say, “Kindness is the ultimate accessory.”

One does not require an expensive outfit or a huge bank balance to demonstrate elegance. It comes from intentionality and even heart, just like the five gestures listed above. Focus on one tip, and change it to something that best suits you. Perhaps maintain eye contact for longer or avoid speaking during a contentious discussion. Regardless of the choice you make, the change in your self-perception and the perception others have of you will be undeniable. So go continue embracing your royal self; you have this.