1,167 words of content, including tips to build a more powerful leadership presence. Approximate content reading time: 4.67 minutes. Share it with a friend who wants to grow!

This newsletter speaks to Leadership, Happiness, and Coaching in your life and work. 

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I. EXECUTIVE PRESENCE: WHAT IT IS, WHY YOU WANT IT, 

HOW TO HAVE IT

What’s Your Superpower?

Yes, it’s a great coaching question -- and I was recently challenged to answer that question about my own coaching. I was in a conference workshop with 15 minutes to discuss that concept in small groups. My assumption was that we’d all be saying the same things. True?

Sort of. Maybe. Er…no.

If you’ve been reading me for a while, you know that my response to the “what’s your coaching superpower?” includes terms like confidence, embodied presence, and positivity, right? I was delighted with the variety of responses I heard from other coaches AND I was surprised that some of my colleagues were not familiar terms like Executive Presence. If coaches don’t know this, do you?

Let’s explore this essential quality that is also part of my coaching Promise.

What is Presence, and Why Do You Want It? 

In the dynamic landscape of business, where many players seek to build a solid Personal Brand and create a lasting impact, one trait stands out: Leadership Presence, aka Executive Presence*

*For the rest of this post, I’ll use the terms interchangeably, and with a reminder that I don’t believe leadership is about a title – anyone can be or become a leader who acts like one. So read on for tips on how to do that very thing!

It is a quality that goes beyond mere charisma or commanding authority. Presence is the art of projecting confidence, authenticity, and influence, enabling leaders to guide their teams towards success. In today's competitive world, cultivating a strong leadership presence is not just an option but a necessity for career advancement and organizational growth.

It's also about inspiring confidence and trust in others – confidence in your associates that you’re a good person to follow, confidence among peers that you’re capable and competent, and confidence with senior leaders that you have the potential to take on more and positively impact the organization. 

Leadership Presence starts with the four domains of emotional intelligence. Self-awareness (1) allows leaders to understand their own emotions, strengths & weaknesses, and how they come across to others. From that insight, leaders can better self-manage (2) those emotions, making them more relatable and approachable and (the holy grail of leadership) authentic!

Emotional intelligence further enables leaders to empathize (3) with their team members, navigate complex situations, and build meaningful connections. These qualities are critical for influencing (4) the work of teams by fostering trust, collaboration, and a positive work culture.

Since my passion is to “help build a happier world and workplace, one leader at a time,” I spend much of my coaching time helping clients become better observers of their own emotions and thinking patterns and how those show up in behavior. 

It’s how you walk, talk, sit, stand, breathe. It’s about how the atmosphere shifts when you walk into a room. It’s how you are “present” even when you are not present.

Leadership presence holds immense importance for your career growth. It sets apart high performers from the rest, paving the way for greater opportunities and advancement. When you embody a strong presence, you command respect, instill confidence, and inspire others to give their best. 

Moreover, organizations that support strong, positive, executive behaviors have better outcomes, regardless of industry or geography. When you are confident and secure in your own authentic self, you hold a different space for others to show up more fully as themselves. Your presence can “infect” those around you, shaping your team’s culture and beyond. 

The higher up an embodied, positive confident leader sits, the broader their impact on employee engagement, morale, and overall performance. Positive leadership presence fosters a “safer” environment where ideas and learning are freely shared, risks are taken, and innovation thrives. This can lead to improved talent retention and attraction of top talent. 

If Presence is so Great, Why Doesn’t Everybody Want It?

Short answer: because Leadership is rare. The word “leader” is often applied to people who hold power. But as you’ve read here and many other places (search “manager vs leader” in your browser of choice) it’s two different domains – both necessary, in balance. In organizations where power and control are what get rewarded, that balance is absent and there is little motivation to develop leadership presence. It takes leaders to grow leaders. 

Here are 11 tips to help build your leadership presence:

1. Cultivate self-awareness: Understand your strengths, weaknesses, and how you come across to others. If you don’t know, ask for feedback and feedforward.
2. Develop your emotional intelligence: Nurture emotional self-regulation, and social skills. Being attuned to others' emotions will enhance your ability to connect and influence.
3. Communicate with clarity: Craft concise and compelling messages that resonate with your audience. Effective communication builds trust and inspires action.
4. Project confidence: Stand tall, breathe deeply, maintain eye contact, and speak with conviction. A confident demeanor exudes credibility and inspires confidence in others.
5. Listen to others: As smart as you may be and as brilliant are your ideas, notice there are other equally bright people around you. Practice JUST LISTENING to others, without needing to correct them, offer a better idea, or prove you’re smarter.
6. Model calm under pressure: Be the eye, not the storm. Your ability to navigate difficulties with grace and composure inspires confidence in your leadership.
7. Develop a compelling personal brand: Clearly define your values, strengths, and unique qualities. Build a personal brand that aligns with your leadership style and resonates with others.
8. Expand your knowledge and expertise: Stay updated on industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies. Being knowledgeable and informed enhances your credibility as a leader.
9. Embrace diversity and inclusion: Foster an inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives and promotes equity. Embracing diversity enhances your leadership presence by demonstrating your commitment to fairness and collaboration.
10. Be adaptable and agile: Embrace change and demonstrate flexibility in navigating uncertainties. Your ability to adapt and lead through change strengthens your leadership presence. When you model a growth mindset, you also encourage others to consider ongoing learning and reinvention.
11. Lead by example: Embody the values and behaviors you expect from others. Your actions speak louder than words and set the tone for the entire organization, whether you are part of a small team or head a huge organization. HOW you show up, your presence/behavior, speak louder than anything you say.

There are many more ways to build a powerful, positive Presence. I’ve included at least one in nearly every post I’ve ever written, and sometimes many tips, so I can personally speak to over 300 + practices. No matter where you are on your journey toward leadership/executive presence, there’s more to explore. Find what works for you and do that. And then next and next and next. 

Mastery is a way to grow, not a destination. 

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Remember, Leadership is not about a title: Anyone can be a leader who shows up, every day, wearing a Presence that supports and inspires others to be their best.

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II. Ad: Help Yourself, Help Another Coach?

If you are a coach on your way to an ICF ACC certification or renewal, stick with me for one more minute. 

I’m working with a client in Portugal who is also a coach needing to renew her ACC credential. She’s begun working with me for the three individual mentoring sessions required, and would like to build a group with 3-4 others to spread the cost of the other seven hours by doing group sessions between now and EOM August. The cost to you could be as little as $300-700 USD, plus individual observed sessions (not required). 

For more information or with questions, drop me a note and I’ll introduce you to Diana. Times would be flexible for all of us to work across time zones. 

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