How do I hold authority when I feel intimidated?

Holding authority intimidates you, and you do not yet know how to carry it. That is honest, and it is where everyone starts. Authority does not come from feeling fearless. It comes from steadiness that you build over time. The people who seem naturally commanding were once exactly where you are, unsure and hoping it did not show. Real authority is quieter than you think. It is not loudness or force; it is being calm, consistent, and clear about what you expect. People read certainty in your bearing, not your volume. When you are steady and predictable, others settle, even when you feel unsure inside. You can act steady before you feel it, and the feeling follows. Pick one small thing and be completely consistent about it, the same expectation, the same calm response, every time. Let people learn you mean what you say. Authority is built from many small moments of following through, not from one show of strength. Start with one, and let it grow.