Leadership presence is the elusive secret of successful leadership.
If you’ve got “IT” you radiate a magnetic effect that comes from being authentic and inspires people to you.
And, if you have “IT” your presence opens the door to greater leadership responsibilities.
Increase your leadership presence by taking a look at the “ultimate” infographic and bonus material.
More Checklists to Help You Build Leadership Presence
Communicate Well
As a leader, you’re always communicating, whether or not you’re speaking.
- Listen “in the moment” and without judgment
- Ensure your words align with your actions and your values
- Understand and appreciate the other person’s situation or feelings
- Communicate that understanding back to the person in a meaningful way
- Champion open dialogue within your team and your organization
- Connect with your audience
- Write and speak in a language that everyone can easily understand
- Tell stories that elicit emotions
- Prepare your message then deliver it with sincerity and conviction
- Monitor body language: yours and theirs
Dress Professionally
250 milliseconds is the amount of time it takes for someone to size up your competence, likability, and trustworthiness, even before words are spoken
Classic style lasts for years. Fashion costs you money.
“Style is the synthesis of taste and technique. With help, both can be developed.”
Jon Green, Bespoke Clothier
Three Main Objectives
- Dress in a way that enhances your professional appearance
- Dress in a way that is congruent with organizational/industry expectations
- Dress in a way that portrays the authentic (inner) you
The Essence of the Art of Style
- Your individuality is expressed in a way that communicates authenticity, confidence, and congruence
- You’re comfortable both in your own skin and your clothes
- Result: people recognize your authenticity and respond positively to you
Some Basic Style Tips for Professionals
- Buy the best clothing and shoes you can afford
- Make sure the clothes fit (not too tight or not too baggy)
- Know the organizational dress code, both formal and informal, then dress a “level up”
- Avoid cologne or perfume, extreme haircuts, and body art in business settings—it’s a distraction
- Keep your clothes laundered and pressed and your shoes shined and yourself well-groomed
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Great Reads on Presence
- James Scouller, The Three Levels of Leadership: How to Develop Your Leadership Presence, Knowhow and Skill
- Kathy Lubar and Belle Linda Halpern, Leadership Presence
- Sylvia Ann Hewlitt, Executive Presence: The Missing Link Between Merit and Success
- Sylvie di Giusto, The Image of Leadership: How Leaders Package Themselves to Stand Out for the Right Reasons
- Steven J. Stein and Howard E. Book, The EQ Edge: Emotional Intelligence and Your Success
- James Kouzes and Barry Posner, Credibility: How Leaders Gain and Lose It, Why People Demand It
- Robert Bruce Shaw, Leadership Blindspots: How Successful Leaders Identify and Overcome the Weaknesses That Matter
- Henry Thompson, The Stress Effect: Why Smart Leaders Make Dumb Decisions–And What to Do About It
Infographic Transcript
What is Presence?
“The magnetic, radiating effect you have on others when you’re being the authentic you” –James Scouller, author of The Three Levels of Leadership
“Leaders with presence have the intellectual and emotional depth, psychological strength, and interpersonal credibility to get their point across, inspire confidence, generate teamwork, and create results when the going gets tough” –Joe Scherrer
Why is it Important?
- As a leader, your distinctive, sincere presence is what inspires people to trust you and want you to lead them
- Presence opens the door to greater leadership responsibilities
Presence vs. Charisma
Leaders with presence can be charismatic, but leaders with charisma often lack presence.
Leaders with presence can be charismatic, but leaders with charisma often lack presence. Tweet This!Presence vs. Charisma
- Inner wholeness vs. Outer shell
- Deep vs. Superficial
- Authentic vs. Acting
- Enduring vs. Transitory
- Founded on high self-esteem vs. Founded on insecurity
- Genuineness vs. Appearances
Projecting Presence
What Others Recognize About You in the Short Term
- Status
- Reputation
- Poise
- Physical Appearance
- Calm Demeanor
- Confidence
What Others Recognize About You in the Long Term
- Empathetic Interpersonal Relationships
- Values-in-Action
- Bona Fide Expertise
- Track Record of Results
- Skillful Use of Power
- Gravitas
Three Components of Presence
- Inner You
- Communication
- Appearance
Seven Qualities of Presence
- Personal power: The ability to exercise control over your will and impulses
- High self-esteem: Feeling good about your self-concept as a person
- Growth orientation: Drive to surpass your current self
- Purpose: Connection to your core values
- Vision: Ability to generate insight out of complexity
- Focus on the present: Devoting your full attention to the here and now
- Peace of mind: Inner sense of fulfillment
The Foundation of Presence: 14 Elements of Leader Self-Awareness
“At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are and you know what you want.” —Lao Tzu
The Purpose of Self-Awareness
- Build a comprehensive understanding of how and why you operate
- Uncover new layers of personal insight
- Free yourself from irrational fears
- Pave the way for inner wholeness
- Set the stage for true self-mastery
The 14 Elements
- Innate personality: The characteristic patterns of your thinking, feeling, and behaving.
- Motivators: The psychological drives that impel you to action.
- Cognitive intelligence (IQ): ability to reason, to build logical arguments from sensory evidence, to solve puzzles and problems, to “make sense” of the universe.
- Emotional intelligence (EQ): The aspect of ourselves that enables us to make our way successfully in the world in terms of our relationships with others.
- Blind spots: Aspects of your personality or your behavior—usually negative—in which you remain stubbornly rigid in your attitudes, views, and actions.
- Biases: Built-in problem-solving routines that inhibit judgment and decision making.
- Dominant patterns: Filters you use to process information and make decisions.
- Moral beliefs and ethical code: What you stand for in terms of right and wrong (morality) and how you enact those beliefs in your daily leadership walk (ethics).
- Passions: Those feelings that give you effortless energy, enthusiasm, and enjoyment.
- Limiting distortions: Automatic thought patterns that distort your view of yourself or the situation you face.
- Professional skills: The sum of your education, training, and experience that you apply to your leadership role.
- Resilience: Your ability to sustain high-level performance under stress.
- Capacity for service: The degree to which you place your talents and skills, whether large or small, in the service of others.
- Personal mission statement: Captures your purpose, your vision, who you want to become, and what you intend to accomplish.
Building Presence
Achieve Self-Mastery
“I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is over self.” –Aristotle
6 Steps to Self-Mastery
- Commit to Growth. Accept the challenge—and discomfort—that comes with change.
- Fulfill Your Mission. Tap into the core values that motivate you most and that move you toward the vision of who you want to be.
- Control What You Can Control. Namely: yourself. Realize you don’t control the reactions and behavior of others.
- Remove Limiting Beliefs. Refuse to identify with the thoughts that undermine your self-concept.
- Enlist Help on Your Journey. Be open to the wisdom of others.
- Resolve to Create New Habits. Replace old habits that limit growth with new ones that support your mission.