Presenting with Purpose in AEC, Part III
- Kayla McCause, LSSGB, CPSM
- Jun 2
- 2 min read
Presenting as a Thought Leader (For Senior Leaders)
You’ve got insight and experience—now it’s time to influence. Senior AEC professionals are often called on to speak externally, whether to clients, industry panels, or broader internal teams. These moments aren’t just about sharing updates—they’re about shaping perception, setting direction, and building reputation.
Your Goal: Influence and Inspiration Move beyond information-sharing. Make people feel something. Make them remember you. Your goal as a thought leader is not to talk the most—it’s to say what matters, when it matters, and in a way that others can’t help but quote or repeat.
Common Challenge: Imposter Syndrome Even accomplished leaders can question whether their voice is worth the spotlight. It is. The key is remembering that thought leadership is not about being perfect—it’s about offering perspective with confidence and clarity.
Where It Shows Up:
Industry panels
All-hands or multi-office meetings
Webinars and conferences
Soft Skills to Focus On:
Command presence. Own the space. Use stillness and eye contact to project calm authority
Conversational tone. Avoid jargon. Speak like a person, not a pitch deck. Authenticity resonates
Emphasis and pacing. Use vocal dynamics to signal key points. Slow down to emphasize big ideas
Narrative control. Build your message like a story—beginning, middle, end. Make it memorable
Vulnerability and openness. Don’t be afraid to share lessons learned. Authenticity builds trust
Q&A poise. Repeat questions back, pause to gather thoughts, and answer with intention and relevance
Quick Tips:
Speak with, not at—connect with the audience
Use personal stories or case studies to frame insights
Handle questions by pausing, repeating, then responding
Practice This:
Rehearse a TED-style 3-minute talk on an industry lesson
Host a lunch-and-learn or internal fireside chat
Get feedback not just on content—but how you made people feel
