I thought you knew how to command a room. Use this list if you're having trouble.

Great leaders use these 9 tactics to command a room:

1. Show up early or precisely on time--never late. Walking in late means you need an apology and an excuse before you say anything else. It's not a strong starting position, and it can be difficult to overcome no matter how great your reasons might be.

2. Enter the room with intention. As you arrive at the door, pause for a moment with your head up to survey the scene. Move purposefully toward the seat you want, which will vary depending on the purpose of the gathering and the room arrangement.

3. Ground yourself by putting both feet on the floor and sitting squarely in your seat. Plan to slouch later.

4. Use your polished "go to" introduction to say who you are without fluff or mumbles. Tip #1 in this recent post.

5. Each time you speak, project your voice to the farthest person in the room. No, you're not shouting. It just feels like that.

6. Complete all requested prework ahead of time. If you do, you'll be able to answer a definitive "yes" when the presenter asks, "Did everyone get the materials and read them?" Completing preparatory work will differentiate you from most other people in the room and sets the bar higher for the group in future meetings.

7. Bring both your knowledge and curiosity. Use a tactic from the professional coach's playbook and ask open-ended questions to encourage discussion.

8. Have an opinion. Having an opinion demonstrates that you've been paying attention and that you care.

9. Concisely state your perspective. If you typically have an opinion (as suggested in #8) but struggle to articulate it in a compelling way, write it down beforehand. Be prepared to also clearly say why. Know upfront what you feel passionate about and what you can live with if it doesn't go your way.