Accessing your inner Yoda for powerful presence

‘Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter’, is of Yoda’s most inspirational quotes. It perfectly captures how we can show up authentically in our professional lives.

As part of a special Star Wars themed series for May (May the 4th be with you!), a recent episode of Secrets from a Coach podcast explored the fascinating parallels between the wisdom of Yoda and developing a powerful presence in the workplace.

Having transitioned from a career as a professional dancer in musical theatre to working in learning and development, I’ve discovered that the performance mindset developed on stage offers valuable insights and tools for the workplace, and in life. 

If we are all performing in this big show called life, we need to work together to guarantee that what we are putting out into the world is magic. 

The mask and the master

In the world of work, we often feel compelled to wear a ‘mask’, worrying about how we look, if we sound professional enough or whether we fit in. What I’ve learned is that true presence comes from understanding that while we might wear this external mask, we must also recognise that we are the internal ‘master’ of our thoughts.

The question I always ask myself before important moments in time is: ‘Who am I right now?’ Am I being that anxious internal dialogue fretting about my performance, or am I showing up as the expert I truly am?

When we enter spaces like the boardroom (the equivalent of an audition room in my previous career), we can easily fall into the trap of focusing entirely on external appearances. But the magic happens when we allow our authentic self to shine through, while still delivering what’s needed professionally. It’s less about the external and more about the internal.

Stillness as the new spotlight

One of the most powerful lessons I’ve carried from my days as a performer is that stillness can be your greatest tool. Doing less actually means doing more. This is a concept my contemporary dance teachers drilled into me. Can you imagine a Jedi Knight frantically waving their lightsaber about hoping to hit something? Of course not. Instead, embrace the stillness and trust the process.

In today’s workplace, where we’re constantly bombarded with stimuli and pressure to perform, embracing stillness can be revolutionary. Before delivering a presentation or entering an important meeting, take a moment to breathe, trust yourself and allow the pauses. These moments of stillness aren’t signs of weakness; they’re your spotlight.

Defeating your inner Darth Vader

We all have an inner critic; what I like to call our personal Darth Vader. As performers, we’re trained to seek applause and external validation. If we don’t receive it, our inner critic can become deafening.

I’ve learned the hard way that constantly seeking external validation creates an ‘applause loop’ that’s impossible to satisfy. If we’re always looking for applause from our inner Darth Vader, and too often we’re never going to receive it.

True power comes from breaking this cycle, from being your own cheerleader and recognising that no one else does what you do like you. When you can genuinely say ‘I did a brilliant job’ without needing others to confirm it, that’s when you’ve truly accessed your inner Yoda.

Embodying wisdom through movement

Our psychical state can significantly influence our mental state. For example, if you’re feeling anxious before a presentation, intentionally shifting your physical state can help reset your mind.

‘Verbatim’ is a choreographic tool where you add a gesture to every word you’re saying. While you might not perform the full gestures in a real presentation, practicing this technique helps free your body, reduces tension and creates flow in your delivery.

As performers, we crave certainty, the comfort of knowing exactly what comes next. But Yoda teaches us about embracing the unknown. In our Speaker Stagecraft workshops, we use improv exercises to help people break away from rigid scripts and tap into their intuition. 

When you allow yourself this freedom, you become truly present, responsive to the moment, and authentically yourself. Remember, you are not just the star of your own story; you’re also the director. You can change your physical state, shift your internal dialogue and create the presence you want to embody.

You’re not just the star, you’re the director. Unlearn the applause loop, embrace stillness, tap into your inner performer and allow your authentic self to shine through. Only then will you have the presence to become at one with the force. 

Written By Karl Green

Karl Green is a performance and wellness coach at Wishfish Coaching & Development and Secrets from a Coach. For more information visit: wishfish.org.uk and secretsfromacoach.com.

Listen to episode 234. Accessing Your Inner Yoda for Powerful Presence here.