Justin O'Brien

‘Speak up more,’ they told the project manager.

‘Show more confidence,’ they said.

But forced authority is failing your construction bids.

Here’s what actually builds authentic authority in bid presentations, based on coaching 100+ construction managers:

Silent Power: Using strategic pauses to emphasize key points and let critical information land

Impact Focus: Connecting every technical feature to measurable business outcomes

Story Banking: Leading with real project experiences that demonstrate proven execution

Command Language: Replacing weak phrases (‘we think’, ‘probably’) with confident statements (‘we will’, ‘we know’)

Space Mastery: Controlling the room through deliberate movement and positioning

The truth about authority in bids:

It’s not performance

It’s not volume

It’s not theatrics

It’s demonstrating clear command of how your solution drives their success.

Remember: Stop trying to be a ‘better presenter.’ Start being the confident expert they need to trust.

What’s your experience with authentic authority in technical presentations?

Share below.

#PresentationSkills #Bid #Communication