Advice from Christina Balanos, communication and leadership expert.

How do you recognize a great leader? It’s someone whose intellect is often admired, or the power of their speech or strategic vision, and we ignore how they look. “And besides, many people only express themselves with their upper body,” notes Christina Balanos, a communications and leadership expert. In other words, we might think and speak well, but we don’t fully embody what we say. So what happens? The impact of our message is greatly diminished. So how can we remedy this disconnection and reintegrate the body into the role model? 

Reconnecting with the body: individual benefits  

Christina Balanos believes that “finding grounding in the body is what enables us to escape mental restlessness, stop running to catch the subway of our thoughts, and recover a vital sense of presence.” In doing so, we are the first to benefit from this reconnection.  

But that’s not all, because others can benefit too! Reconnecting with your body allows you to enhance your strength as a leader, because an engaged, inhabited body becomes a vector of authenticity. “It reflects our inner alignment and reinforces the coherence between what we say and what we embody,” explains Christina Balanos. Conversely, a stiff body, a monotonous voice and a fixed posture suggest disengagement or disconnection.  

“When a leader embodies what they say, it shows, and above all, it makes you want to follow them because emotions are contagious,” notes the specialist. “The face is more open, more engaged, gestures are more natural, smiles are spontaneous.” The person’s involvement is more fluid, because it is genuine, a real connection forms. And the impact is multiplied tenfold.  

Relearning to inhabit your body as a role model: 3 concrete tips

As you’ve understood, non-verbal language (voice, pace, gaze, posture, Ed.) is a powerful lever of leadership. And for good reason, “the body is a loudspeaker for our convictions,” underlines Christina Balanos. The specialist shares three accessible and incredibly effective tips on how to fully embody a role model position.  

1.      Breathe mindfully 

The body tenses almost automatically as soon as there is something at stake, such as when you’re giving an important speech. “Abdominal breathing is vital on these occasions, through simple breathing exercises or heart coherence for more advanced practitioners, or even mindfulness exercises,” recommends Christina Balanos. “They relax the body and get the diaphragm moving, opening the ribcage, and bringing in more oxygen.” And what happens? “More lightness, greater presence, and relaxation.”

2. Prepare your body and voice

Breathing is also the foundation of the voice; the body is the instrument we use to share that voice. If your body needs to transmit a message, it must be prepared. “Voice training is a compulsory step in that process: diction exercises, vocal warm-ups. Your voice is a muscle that needs training!” insists Christina Balanos. Let's take the example of the simple sound ‘shuh’. “If it is projected well, ten times, it will develop your breath and bring more powerful resonance to your voice,” advises the expert.  

3.     Observe yourself  

Finally, Christina Balanos encourages people to observe themselves by filming their speeches. “It might be uncomfortable, but it’s probably the best exercise to check your posture, your body or speech tics, and even pinpoint what you’re good at,” confirms the specialist. Because the idea is this: “The more we identify what we like, the more we can strengthen it and refine the rest.”

“Your body is your best ally to inspire without imposing, reassure without dominating, and make an impression without steamrollering,” as Christina Balanos explains. It then becomes a powerful lever to create a lasting and truly unifying impact. And in a world where artificial intelligence is on the rise, our best course of action is to emphasize our humanity. “Machines will never be able to reproduce human connections, real presence,” concludes Christina Balanos. “What truly matters is authenticity—it’s what leaves an impact and inspires.” So, let’s focus on it as much as we can!