There is a simple activity that you can do to elevate the value of every conversation you participate in and every presentation you can deliver. It’s something you can do to directly impact the people that you talk to, and the people and the things that you talk about. In today’s post, Pete shares a tip about this simple activity.
I was working with a coach recently who reframed a concept we talk about all the time at SagePresence in a way that really landed for me.
We talk a lot about appreciation—how it elevates your confident presence, how it strengthens your connection with others, and how it transforms the experience of a conversation, whether you’re networking, presenting, or leading a client discussion.
But here’s the twist:
Appreciation literally means to increase value.
Think about it financially. When something appreciates, its value goes up.
Now apply that to communication.
When you actively appreciate the people you’re talking to, you’re not just being nice.
You are elevating their value in the moment.
When you appreciate the ideas, the project, the opportunity—whatever you’re discussing—you’re increasing the perceived value of that thing.
This is one of the most powerful and underutilized tools in leadership presence coaching and business development communication training.
Because what happens next is subtle—but significant:
A lot of people think confidence comes from having the right words.
Or delivering the perfect answer.
But in our presentation skills coaching and executive presence coaching work, we see something different.
Confidence grows when your attention moves off of yourself… and onto others.
When you appreciate someone:
That’s what creates a more natural, authentic version of leadership confidence training.
This idea applies everywhere—but especially in high-stakes moments:
In shortlist interview coaching and AEC interview preparation, teams often feel pressure to prove themselves.
But when you shift into appreciation—of the client, their challenge, and the opportunity—you come across as more invested, more human, and more confident.
In networking coaching and business development training, appreciation turns a transactional interaction into a relationship.
You’re not trying to “get something.”
You’re recognizing value—and in doing so, creating more of it.
In group presentation coaching and virtual presentation skills coaching, appreciation brings warmth and connection into the room—whether that room is physical or digital.
The next time you’re in a conversation or presentation, experiment with this:
Notice what happens.
Not just to them…
But to you.
Appreciation isn’t a soft skill.
It’s a value-creating mechanism.
When you appreciate people and ideas, you elevate them.
And in doing so, you elevate your own presence.
That’s where real influence starts.
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