Cultivating presence is a process of training. You need to know not only 'how to do it' but, more importantly, 'strive in that direction' and practice it. Don't wait until you become an expert to act; just do it, and as you do, you'll become an expert. There are techniques and methods to cultivate presence. Here are a few insights to share with you. 1. A Good Pair of Shoes This is the simplest and most direct way. People look at your shoes first. A good pair of shoes can be better than a suit; but if you wear a pair of dirty basketball shoes to an interview, it's hard to talk about presence. 2. Appropriate Hairstyle Personally, I don't appreciate the hairstyles of some Japanese and Korean stars. They are too sloppy and artistic, not only troublesome to maintain but also won't help in any interview. Companies are looking for capable employees, not trendy stars. A neat and capable hairstyle, clean and fresh, even without saying a word, can make a good impression. Of course, this advice only applies to men. Ladies, don't misunderstand and go get a buzz cut. 3. Control Your Speaking Speed Many people have a habit of speaking too fast. With a little training and adjustment, you can see immediate results. Speaking at a moderate pace has several benefits: First, it helps you appear calm and composed, with rhythm and cadence; second, it gives you time to think, allowing you to 'think while speaking' rather than rattling off like a machine gun; third, it makes it easier for the other party to understand. 4. Be More Logical Cultivating logical thinking is not a day's work, but through short-term targeted training, it is possible to 'appear more logical'. Here are two simple points: One is 'state the conclusion first, then the supporting arguments'. In middle school Chinese, this is called 'general-specific structure'. The benefit is that the other party can quickly grasp your point, and then you fill it out with arguments, avoiding the problems of 'overly long preamble' and 'digressing from the topic'. Another is 'break down the topic'. If you want to express an idea and throw it all at once, the other party will be confused, 'tangled and messy'. So clean it up, divide it into several points, each corresponding to a small argument or sub-topic, making it easier for the other party to grasp your meaning. Additionally, numbered expressions (i.e., one, two, three, four) naturally give a sense of 'narrating in an orderly and logical manner'. I recommend a book, 'The Pyramid Principle', which discusses the logic of thinking, speaking, and writing. It's not an entertaining book, but it's definitely worth reading repeatedly. 5. Be Concise A friend of mine speaks concisely and to the point, 'every word counts'. Chatting with him is a pleasure, like a spring breeze, very flavorful. Examine your expressions and remove the filler words: 'like', 'then', 'so', 'uh', 'um'... These are all 'water words': removing them won't affect understanding, but their presence makes your expression seem dragging and dilutes your presence. Guo Degang's expression is skillful; watch him speak cleanly and concisely, with no dragging in transitions; Huang Zhizhong from 'Qipa Shuo' speaks with concise language, narrating smoothly, almost every speech can be used as learning material (in contrast, Fan Tiantian and Teacher Aili are...). There is a small training method: speak into WeChat voice messages and send them to yourself to train. You will see many areas for improvement. 6. Be Calm and Composed You must understand that 'passionate and dynamic' is not the same as 'loud and boisterous'. During an interview: don't be jumpy, don't be crazy, don't laugh loudly, don't have exaggerated body movements... You might think this is interesting, but the interviewer will frown and label you as 'unreliable'. He is not looking for a friend, but an employee; he wouldn't dare entrust things to you. A calm first impression gives a sense of 'reliability', which is beneficial. Remember the dozens of vases that Miao Cuihua smashed in 'Interview Presence'? 7. Self-Confidence Watching 'Fei Ni Mo Shu', a job seeker came up and gave Zhang Shaogang a deep 90-degree bow. Without knowing the basics of this candidate, this not-so-confident move would not be ignored by Teacher Zhang Shaogang. Sure enough, he was ruthlessly tormented by Teacher Zhang. Finally, under stress and pressure, his performance was terrible. Staying humble is right, but excessive humility can hurt you—it makes the other party look down on you, and you will be perceived as 'timid', 'inexperienced', or 'incompetent'. This applies to interviews, work, and business alike. 'Neither humble nor pushy' is always a word that is easy to say but hard to practice, but it is worth continuous cultivation. It is an important part of a good presence. 8. Clean and Tidy If all the above are beyond your ability, then strive for one thing: cleanliness and tidiness. Don't have a shiny face or disheveled hair; don't go to an interview with dandruff; wear clean and ironed clothes; trim your fingernails... A clean image makes people comfortable; a sloppy image makes it hard to leave a good impression, and the outcome of the interview is predictable. 9. Vary According to the Person 'Steady and profound, immovable as a mountain' is good presence; 'clever and eloquent, passionate and radiant' is good presence; 'gentle and detailed, breaking things down' is also good presence. In martial arts, there is no distinction between high and low; only the difference in application. You can absorb others' techniques, but don't copy their systems. Forming your own style of presence based on your personality is what smart people do. 10. Practice What You Preach Finally, I want to say: cultivating presence is a process of training. You need to know not only 'how to do it' but, more importantly, 'strive in that direction' and practice it. Train your speech and demeanor until they become subconscious habits. Don't wait until you become an expert to act; just do it, and as you do, you'll become an expert. -END-