Be remarkable: On "reading the room"

We’ve all seen it — the moment someone thinks they’ve nailed it, but the room tells a very different story.

That was Trump and Hegseth, swaggering in front of a wall of stone-faced generals, blind to the silence staring back.

Misreading the room isn’t just awkward; it’s communication suicide.

The best leaders don’t bulldoze with challenges, insults and bravado — they tune in, adjust, and win the room before they try to win the argument.

be remarkable (presentations)

Reading the room in a presentation starts before you even open your mouth. Watch their body language! Are they leaning in, nodding, or worse still, checking their phones? Test the waters with a quick story, a question, or even a pause, and see how they respond. If the energy drops, shift gears. Shorten, spark curiosity, invite interaction. Great presenters don’t just deliver slides; they tune into the audience and adjust in real time. The real pros know it’s not about ploughing through the script, it’s about meeting people where they are. When you do that, you turn passive listeners into engaged participants.

be remarkable (meetings)

Reading the room in a meeting isn’t just about listening intently and noticing body language. It’s about spotting the hidden currents. Who’s quietly influencing decisions? Who’s waiting for the right moment to push back? Tune in to these dynamics, and you can shape the conversation. Smart participants know when to challenge, when to listen, and when a well-timed question can redirect the entire discussion. Ignore these signals, and you risk leaving the meeting thinking you led, whilst everyone else quietly ignored you.

be remarkable (in an interview)

Reading the room in an interview can make the difference between landing the role and talking yourself into a corner. Notice the subtle cues: eye contact, nods, crossed arms, or the interviewer’s tone! They’re telling you what they value and what they don’t. Adjust your answers, your stories, even your energy to mirror what they respond to, without ever faking it. Push too hard, and you’ll look desperate but stay too passive, and you’ll be forgettable. The secret isn’t just what you say, it’s how well you tune in, adapt, and lead the conversation without anyone realising it.

Final thought…

Reading the room isn’t an optional soft skill, it’s the difference between influence and irrelevance. People don’t just hear what you say, they feel whether you’ve understood where they are. When you tune in first, you earn the right to be heard. Win the room and the argument takes care of itself.