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By:

Divyaa Advaani 

2 November 2024 at 3:28:38 am

Presence Before Pitch

Walk into any business networking room and you will witness something far more telling than exchanged cards or polite handshakes. You will see personal brands at work — quietly, powerfully, and often unintentionally. The way a business owner carries himself, engages with others, and competes for attention in public spaces reveals more about future growth than balance sheets ever will. At a recent networking meet, two business owners from the same industry stood out — not because of what they...

Presence Before Pitch

Walk into any business networking room and you will witness something far more telling than exchanged cards or polite handshakes. You will see personal brands at work — quietly, powerfully, and often unintentionally. The way a business owner carries himself, engages with others, and competes for attention in public spaces reveals more about future growth than balance sheets ever will. At a recent networking meet, two business owners from the same industry stood out — not because of what they said, but because of how they behaved. One was visibly assertive, bordering on aggressive. He pulled people aside, positioned himself strategically, and tried to dominate conversations to secure advantage. The other remained calm, composed, and observant. He engaged without urgency, listened more than he spoke, and never attempted to overpower the room. Both wanted business. Both were ambitious. Yet the impressions they left could not have been more different. For someone new to the room — a potential client, collaborator, or investor — this contrast creates confusion. Whom do you trust? Whom do you align with? Whose values reflect stability rather than desperation? Often, decisions are made instinctively, not analytically. And those instincts are shaped by personal branding, whether intentional or accidental. This is where many business owners underestimate the real cost of their behaviour. Personal branding is not about visibility alone. It is about perception under pressure. In networking environments, where no one has time to analyse credentials deeply, people read cues — tone, composure, generosity, restraint. An overly forceful approach may signal insecurity rather than confidence. Excessive friendliness can appear transactional. Silence, when grounded, can convey authority. Silence, when disconnected, can signal irrelevance. Every move sends a message. What’s at stake is not just one meeting or one deal. It is long-term growth. When a business owner appears opportunistic, others become cautious. When someone seems too eager to win, people question their stability. When intent feels unclear, credibility erodes. This doesn’t merely slow growth — it quietly redirects opportunities elsewhere. Deals don’t always collapse loudly. Sometimes, they simply never materialise. The composed business owner in the room may not close a deal that day. But he leaves with something far more valuable — trust capital. His presence feels safe. His brand feels consistent. People remember him as someone they would like to work with, not someone they need to protect themselves from. Over time, this distinction compounds. In today’s business ecosystem, especially among seasoned founders and leaders, how you compete matters as much as whether you compete. Growth is no longer just about capability; it is about conduct. Your personal brand determines whether people lean in or step back — whether they introduce you to others or quietly avoid alignment. This is why personal branding is not a cosmetic exercise. It is strategic risk management. A strong personal brand ensures that your ambition does not overshadow your credibility. It aligns your intent with your impact. It allows you to command rooms without controlling them, influence without intrusion, and compete without compromising respect. Most importantly, it ensures that when people talk about you after you leave the room, they speak with clarity, not confusion. For business owners who want to scale, this distinction becomes critical. Growth brings visibility. Visibility amplifies behaviour. What once went unnoticed suddenly becomes defining. Without a refined personal brand, ambition can be misread as aggression. Confidence can feel like arrogance. Silence can be mistaken for disinterest. And these misinterpretations cost more than money — they cost momentum. The question, then, is not whether you are talented or successful. It is whether your personal brand is working for you or quietly against you in spaces where decisions are formed long before contracts are signed. Because in business, people don’t always choose the best offer. They choose the person who feels right. If you are a business owner or founder who wants to grow without compromising credibility — who wants to attract opportunities rather than chase them — it may be time to look closely at how your presence is being perceived in rooms that matter. If this resonates and you’d like to explore how your personal brand can be refined to support your growth, you can book a complimentary consultation here: https://sprect.com/pro/divyaaadvaani Not as a pitch — but as a conversation about how you show up, and what that presence is truly building for you. (The writer is a personal branding expert. She has clients from 14+ countries. Views personal.)

Office market posts record leasing

Mumbai: India’s office real estate market delivered its strongest-ever performance in 2025, with gross leasing touching an all-time high of 86.4 million sq ft, marking a 20 per cent year-on-year growth, according to Knight Frank India’s India Real Estate – Office and Residential Market (H2 2025) report. The year not only surpassed the previous peak recorded in 2024 but also stood 43 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels of 2019, underscoring the structural strengthening of occupier demand across major cities.


The surge was broad-based, with five of the eight tracked markets crossing the 10 million sq ft annual leasing threshold, reflecting the growing depth and geographic diversification of India’s office ecosystem. Bengaluru retained its leadership position, registering a historic 28.7 million sq ft of leasing—its highest ever—driven largely by global technology firms and Global Capability Centres (GCCs). Hyderabad, NCR, Pune and Chennai also recorded their best or near-best annual performances, while Mumbai narrowly missed the 10 million sq ft mark.


Leasing momentum remained robust throughout the year. H2 2025 accounted for 37.5 million sq ft, second only to the exceptionally strong first half, indicating sustained occupier confidence and long-term commitment to Indian office assets. This resilience came despite global economic uncertainty, reinforcing India’s standing as a preferred destination for corporate expansion.


Global Capability Centres

A defining feature of 2025 was the dominance of Global Capability Centres, which emerged as the largest occupier segment. GCCs accounted for 38 per cent of total leasing, or nearly 32 million sq ft, consolidating India’s position as a global hub for research, development and high-value services. Bengaluru alone captured almost half of total GCC absorption, followed by Hyderabad and Chennai, highlighting the concentration of advanced talent pools in these cities.


Other demand drivers also showed strong recovery. Third-party IT services leasing nearly doubled year-on-year, reaching over 15 million sq ft, supported by accelerating adoption of artificial intelligence and digital transformation across global enterprises. Flexible workspace operators recorded their highest-ever absorption, with close to 19 million sq ft leased, reflecting occupiers’ preference for scalable and managed workplace solutions amid evolving work strategies.


While demand surged, new office completions lagged, rising a more modest 9% year-on-year to 54.8 million sq ft. Bengaluru and Pune together accounted for more than half of new supply additions. The supply-demand mismatch kept vacancy levels in check and strengthened landlords’ pricing power, resulting in rental growth across all major markets.


Commenting on the performance, Knight Frank India Chairman and Managing Director Shishir Baijal said the 2025 cycle represented more than a numerical high, pointing instead to a “structural shift” in how global and domestic enterprises view India as a long-term business destination. The fact that multiple large markets simultaneously touched historic peaks, he noted, highlights the maturity and resilience of the country’s office ecosystem.

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