| I remember my daughter’s school sending us this one picture in particular where she was seated at the head of the table surrounded by her friends. With her big smile, she sat with her elbows on the table, fingertips touching like she was leading a meeting. All eyes were on her.
She was two and a half. I remember thinking, “Wow, that’s some leadership PRESENCE!” Now, I know all those little kids, and they are all strong and confident, but in that snapshot, my little girl commanded the attention of all at the table. PRESENCE IS ESSENTIALLY BEING HEARD AND RESPECTED. It’s everything from…
Some walk into a room and command respect before saying a word. Over the years, I’ve often been asked how to get presence. You could take a class, and read books on the subject, and you probably should do those things. THERE’S ALSO A MUCH QUICKER WAY Find someone who has it and emulate them. Yes, BE A COPYCAT! Try not to stalk them or be weird about it, but learning from example is so much quicker than learning from a book. Don’t pick just anyone. Pick someone most like you… but with presence. Pick someone you can see yourself evolving into. This is really important because if you’re an introvert and you choose an extrovert to emulate (or vice versa), it’s going to feel inauthentic, like you’re trying too hard to be someone you’re not. Once you’ve identified someone you admire, ask them for advice and then pay attention to how they speak, what they say, the exact words they choose, the volume and pace of their speech, their body language, posture and face expressions, who they surround themselves with, and who they avoid. Ask others what they admire about them. Integrity? Calm under pressure? Tendency to lift up others around them? REMEMBER PRESENCE IS INDEPENDENT OF TITLE I’ve seen senior leaders with terrible presence and analysts who command respect immediately when they walk into the same room. For some, it comes naturally. For most, it takes practice, so do it! Be the copycat and get there faster! |