Why Presence — Not Confidence — Changes How You Show Up in Business

So many women business owners tell me the same thing:

“I know my stuff. I just don’t feel confident showing up.”

Whether it’s a webinar, podcast, presentation, or even social content, the issue isn’t a lack of expertise. It’s something far more subtle — and far more powerful.

When I sat down with Anne Maree Wilshire of Vibrant Voices, we unpacked the concept of presence — and why it’s the real game-changer for women who want to be more visible, persuasive, and connected in their business.

Presence Is an Active Choice — Not a Personality Trait

Anne Maree describes presence as an active state. It’s the decision to be fully engaged in the moment, rather than stuck in your head or rushing ahead.

You can see presence in action through:

• how someone uses their voice
• how they move their body
• how clearly they hold their intention
• how willing they are to truly connect

When presence is there, communication flows. When it’s not, even the smartest ideas fall flat.

And for women business owners in particular, presence matters because we are our brand in motion. People don’t just listen to what we say — they feel what it would be like to work with us.

The Three Internal Barriers That Kill Presence

Anne Maree sees three patterns show up again and again:

1. The Inner Judge – That constant background commentary that second-guesses every word. The moment it kicks in, breathing tightens, the voice constricts, and presence drops.
2. Old Beliefs About Being “Appropriate” – Many women soften their message so they don’t sound too strong, too certain, or “too much.” The result? Clear ideas come out diluted.
3. Professional Masks – Polished, composed, and technically correct — but emotionally distant. These masks look professional, yet quietly disconnect us from our audience.

None of these are confidence problems. They’re presence problems.

The Biggest Presentation Blind Spot

One of the most practical insights Anne Maree shared is this:

Most people prepare their content on the page — not in the body.

They spend hours perfecting slides and scripts, but almost no time speaking out loud. Yet speaking is not writing. When content lives only on the page, it often comes out rushed, dense, and disconnected.

Practising out loud is where intention, warmth, rhythm, and conviction start to land.

Three Simple Tweaks That Instantly Improve Connection

If you want your message to land, Anne Maree recommends:

• Anchor one clear intention
  Before anything else, ask: What do I want my audience to feel, think, or do differently?
• Speak in chunks, not paragraphs
  One idea. Pause. Let it land. This reduces waffle, filler words, and overwhelm.
• Use pace and pauses deliberately
  Confidence isn’t speed — it’s rhythm. Pauses give ideas weight.

Confidence Comes After Action

One of my favourite reframes from this conversation:

Confidence doesn’t come before action. It comes because of action.

Waiting to feel confident is a trap. Confidence is built through repetition, embodiment, and familiarity — not perfection.

Presence is not a mindset hack. It’s an embodied experience. When women learn to return to their breath, bodies, and voices, courage and conviction stop being something they chase — and become something they can access.

A Final Reminder

Anne Maree left us with this powerful truth:

• You don’t need fixing.
  You don’t need to become someone else.
  The work is about removing what pulls you out of alignment — and learning how to fully inhabit yourself.

And when that happens?
Presence, confidence, and impact feel like coming home.

Listen to the full conversation on the HerBusiness Podcast
Learn more about Anne Maree’s work and The Presence Lab

Ready to Build a Business That Works for You?

If this story resonated, and you’re ready to step into being more you, being more present, and leading from a different place, we’d love to support you.

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