Owning the Stage of Leadership with Simone de Haas
In this episode of Keynote Expert Voices, Presence Strategist and Founder of The Theatre of Leadership® — Simone de Haas — explores what happens in the critical moment just before leaders step into visibility, when doubt quietly meets authority.
Drawing on more than four decades in theatre direction, performance psychology, and storytelling, Simone shares why leadership presence is not about confidence or charisma, but about how we arrive in the moment. When attention turns toward us — in a meeting, presentation, or high-stakes conversation — our nervous system often activates. Many leaders interpret this as imposter syndrome, when in fact it is simply a natural visibility response.
Simone explores how leaders unintentionally drift into “performing” competence — rushing, over-explaining, or trying to prove themselves — and why this weakens connection. Instead, she offers a different model of leadership: grounded presence, relational awareness, and the ability to settle a room before speaking.
At its core, leadership is not about perfect delivery. It is about creating the conditions where people can think, contribute, and trust the moment together.
A powerful reminder that influence begins not with performance, but with presence.
Watch Season 3, Episode 4 here: