For the people who know me, you also know how I love bringing energy into a room.

If I am speaking at an event, you can expect enthusiasm, interaction and a little rock and roll.

That energy is genuinely me. But it is not there simply to make the presentation louder.

It has a job to do.

Energy can help people feel comfortable. It can invite participation. It can turn a room full of strangers into a group that feels ready to think, contribute and connect.

Because people may forget some of the points on your slides.

They are less likely to forget how the room felt.

I have spent enough time around music to know that an audience can feel the difference between somebody simply hitting the notes and somebody who means what they are doing.

The same is true in leadership.

You do not create energy by demanding attention. You create it by giving attention.

You notice who has not spoken. You invite people into the conversation. You listen to the answer instead of rushing towards your next point. You make it safe for someone to contribute without needing to compete for the microphone.

A great talk is not a solo performance, even when only one person is holding the microphone.

Leadership works the same way.

The strongest leader in the room is not always the person with the biggest personality. It may be the person introducing two people who should know each other, encouraging a quieter voice or making sure somebody new does not spend the entire break standing alone.

They influence the atmosphere. Plus, they help other people feel that they belong there.

That matters in networking because people do not only remember what you told them about your business. They remember whether you appeared interested, whether you made space for them and whether the conversation felt generous or transactional.

Bringing energy does not mean becoming somebody you are not.

You do not need to arrive with a microphone and a guitar solo.

Your energy might be calm, warm, curious or quietly encouraging. The important thing is that it reaches beyond you.

As The Doobie Brothers reminded us, sometimes you have to “Listen to the Music.”