​Quiet cues, subtle habits and how to send the right signals.

You walk into the room. You’ve done your preparation. You’ve read the strategy and checked the website. You’re calm (mostly). You shake hands, sit down and the questions begin.

From that moment, the panel isn’t just listening. They’re watching. And what they notice often has less to do with what you say, and moreand more to do with how you say it, hold yourself and respond under pressure.

Over the years, we’ve sat in on thousands of interviews. Here’s what we quietly notice, and how to adjust the signals you’re sending.

​

1. You underestimate how long your body speaks before you do.

The panel starts forming impressions well before the first answer.

• Do you sit upright or subtly collapse into the chair?

• Are your feet planted or shifting and crossed?

• Do you make eye contact early or keep glancing at your notes?

You don’t need to perform confidence. But quiet presence matters.

Try this:
Before the panel enters (or before you click “Join” on Zoom), take a breath, ground your feet and feel the back of the chair. Small physical cues help your brain catch up.

​

2. You rush the first question.

It’s understandable. You’re eager. You want to prove yourself early.

But rushing into your first answer can signal nervousness, not clarity. It can set a jittery tone for the rest of the interview.

Instead:
Pause. Nod. Say, “That’s a great question, I’d approach that like this…”
You’ve bought yourself two seconds and sent a signal: I’m considered, not flustered.

​

3. You say “we” too much.

We love team players. But in interviews for leadership roles, “we” can quietly cloud your own contribution.

Listen for this:
"We developed the strategy and we worked on the implementation…"

Now try this:
"As Director, I led the strategic development phase. I collaborated with my team on the implementation.”

That’s not bragging, that’s clarity. It helps the panel understand what you actually did.

​

4. You seek reassurance without realising it.

This can sound like:

• “Does that make sense?”

• “Was that the sort of answer you were looking for?”

• “I hope that’s okay.”

It’s not wrong to be human. But these phrases can quietly erode the confidence you just demonstrated.

Instead:
Try a simple close: “Happy to expand if you'd like more detail.”
It’s clear, it’s confident and it puts the choice back with the panel without sounding uncertain.

​

5. You don’t realise when your body freezes.

Some candidates sit perfectly still, no expression, no hand movement, no variation in tone. It’s often a coping strategy, especially when nerves spike.

But the effect? You sound flat, even when you’re making great points.

Try this:
Allow your hands to move a little. Let your face react. Use your voice as a tool: slow down to emphasise, lift your tone to close a point.
You’re not performing. You’re connecting.

​

6. You ask for clarification but with a caveat.

We want you to ask for clarification if a question isn’t clear.

But avoid phrases like:
“I’m not sure if I’ve misunderstood, but…”
“Sorry, I didn’t catch that, maybe it’s just me…”

You don’t need to apologise for seeking clarity.

Instead:
Say: “Just to make sure I’m answering the question fully, would you like me to focus on the leadership aspect or the technical detail?”

That’s considered. That’s confident. And it shows you’re serious about getting it right.

​

Final Thought

We don’t expect perfection. But we do notice presence.
The way you enter the room. The way you pause. The way you own your story.

Leadership isn’t loud, but it is clear.

And sometimes the best thing you can do in an interview is… stop trying to impress. Just be real. Prepared. Grounded. And ready to connect.

And if you want quiet, honest feedback about how you’re showing up in interviews, we’re always happy to talk.

📧hello@leadingroles.com.au
📞1800 088 000