TBD 77: It's not Big Boss Energy.
🎩 Exactly what is leadership presence?
This is the first in five part series on Leadership Presence. Over the coming weeks, I'll dive into defining Leadership Presence as Confidence, Authenticity, Gravitas and Charisma. Sharing the definitions and practical ways you can practice building your skills in each area.
Presence comes from how
we’re showing up in the world.
Most of my clients want to become better leaders. They are ambitious, focused, and work hard to make a difference on their teams. In my mind, leadership is composed of combination of skills and presence. You can have the right skills or experience and still not be perceived as a strong leader.
Why? What exactly is leadership presence? Sometimes it’s hard to specifically articulate what adds up to great leadership. I’m not talking about workplaces with a biased, toxic form of “leadership” and “culture”. Today’s newsletter breaks it down.
Four Qualities of Leadership Presence
Let's take a look at four important parts of leadership presence along with questions you can ask yourself to gauge where you’re demonstrating these qualities.
1. Confidence:
A leader with presence is confident in their actions and their communication. They are comfortable in their own skin and exude a sense of ease and self-assurance. In day-to-day life, this might manifest as a leader who speaks clearly and with conviction, who takes decisive action, and who is unafraid to speak up and take risks.
Do I feel comfortable and at ease in my skin?
Do I feel empowered to speak up clearly to represent my thoughts?
Do I regularly take risks with a sense of optimism and readiness to learn?
Is my confidence grounded in a clear-eyed understanding of risks associated with opportunities? Prepared for challenge, not faking optimism or glossing over issues.
2. Authenticity:
Being genuine and authentic in their interactions with others is also important. Good leaders are true to themselves and their values, and they show up as their authentic selves. In day-to-day life, this might manifest as a leader who is honest and transparent, who acknowledges their mistakes and limitations, and who actively seeks feedback from others.
Do I share transparently our team wins as well as my own learnings?
Do I acknowledge where I’m strong and where I need feedback and support?
Am I open to feedback or have I given the impression that I am not interested in anyone’s feedback?
Do I show up authentically while respecting professional boundaries? That is, can I be authentic and also stay out of the cringe TMI sharing zone?
3. Gravitas:
Finally, a leader with deep understanding of their role and responsibilities can exude gravitas. Good leaders carry themselves with a sense of dignity and poise. They don’t back away from the power that leadership imbues. It’s not a time to play small. In day-to-day life, this might manifest as a leader who is calm and composed under pressure, who is able to handle difficult situations with grace, and who exudes a sense of professionalism and gravitas in all their interactions.
Do I acknowledge my power?
Do I use my power in a just and constructive way that benefits the team and our initiatives?
Do I convey dignity and responsibility without being overly serious?
4. Charisma:
Charisma feels like a quality some people have and some people don’t. But let’s break it down into two components. First, charisma requires having a strong sense of purpose and vision, and secondly, being able to communicate that vision in a way that is both compelling and inspiring to others. Any leader who believes in what they are doing can learn to speak clearly and convincingly about why it is important. Sharing your enthusiasm and relevance can inspire others to follow them. In day-to-day life, this might manifest as a leader who is passionate about their work, who communicates with energy and enthusiasm, and who is able to inspire others to action.
What am I genuinely excited about creating in my role?
When I’ve expressed that excitement and vision, do I see others getting inspired?
If people don’t share my excitement, why? Am I conveying something that matters to them? What’s another approach or angle I could try?
Am I providing enough context or insight about why this is exciting to me and the impact it has on the people we serve?
How do we practice building these qualities?
No one is born as a perfectly formed leader. To build these characteristics we probably need to stretch into new ways of showing up, speaking and leading with our team. Leadership requires a level of mindfulness and self-awareness that may be a new practice for many people. We can have the hard skills, but without leadership presence, we may not get the results we’d like to create.
Can we investigate our strengths and also acknowledge our areas of growth with kindness and compassion? Can we find our own balance of strength, empathy, confidence and connection?
In the coming weeks, I’m doing a deep dive on each of these components to unpack what comprises each quality and how you might build more leadership presence in your own life.
I work with leaders everyday on these skills and I’d be happy to talk with you about how we can work to grow yours.