[ScaleX Bite-Size] Michael J. Gelb on Why Leaders Lose Power Before They Even Speak

Most leaders try to fix executive presence with confidence hacks, posture tricks, or communication frameworks. But as Michael J. Gelb explains, presence isn’t about what you do — it’s about what you stop doing.

And nothing reveals this better than the Alexander Technique, the same methodology taught at the world’s leading performance schools: the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal Academy of Drama, and Juilliard. It’s also the foundation behind Michael’s first book Body: An Introduction to the Alexander Technique.

Why Most Leaders Repel Their Teams Without Realising It

Walk into a room barking orders and people instinctively want to flee — especially creative, high-performing thinkers.
But walk in with natural ease, openness, and curiosity, and everything changes.

As Michael puts it:

“The leaders people trust aren’t the ones who tell you what to do. They’re the ones who ask what’s up for you — and how they can support you.”

What the Alexander Technique Really Teaches

Alexander Technique is not about standing tall or fixing your posture.
It’s about retraining your nervous system so you can return to the natural poise you had as a child — upright, open-faced, free, and unarmoured.

Michael trained three years in London to be able to guide others into this state through subtle, refined touch:

• Ease replaces tension

• Presence replaces intimidation

• Breath replaces bracing

• Openness replaces contraction

It’s the hidden foundation of true executive presence.

A High-Pressure Coaching Story That Says It All

Michael coached a CEO in a deeply tense, high-stakes Zoom meeting — board members, investors, and the executive chair all present.

The CEO was intimidated, fidgeting, collapsing in on himself.

Michael typed a single message in the Zoom chat:

“Hands on the desk, palms up.
Align through your vertical axis.
Add a little smile.”

The CEO shifted — subtly, but profoundly.
And suddenly, the entire room treated him differently.

Because, as Michael says:

“We teach people how to treat us. The most organised nervous system dominates the proceedings.”

Why Walking Is the Secret Accelerator

Michael and co-author Bruce Fertman both realised that walking well is one of the fastest ways to embody the Alexander Technique.
With just the first section of their book Walking Well, readers can transform how they move, breathe, and show up — without a single in-person lesson.

Their vision:
A global conscious walking community, guided by facilitators, grounded in ease, openness, and natural poise.

Key Takeaways

• Executive presence is mostly about what you stop doing

• Natural poise is your birthright — tension and armor are learned

• A tiny shift in your nervous system changes how people respond to you

• The most regulated nervous system leads the room

• Walking well accelerates all Alexander Technique principles

• You can begin transforming your presence in minutes, not months

About Michael J. Gelb:

Internationally renowned author and leadership expert, known for “How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci,” with over one million copies sold worldwide. A pioneer in creativity, innovation, and executive development, he helps leaders elevate their presence, unlock their best ideas, and cultivate cultures grounded in awareness, poise, and authentic connection.

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