Re-thinking leadership presence for busy professionals

We all know the importance of having a leadership presence.  We have seen those with it get ahead.  We have also seen those without it get left behind.   

Despite its importance, many of us aren’t focused on cultivating it.  We assume just doing our job well is enough.  But that's often not the case.  I have seen many brilliant up-and-coming professionals stall in their careers because they didn't pay enough attention to developing the soft skills of being a leader. 

The truth is that we all can cultivate leadership presence.  Below are three techniques to help you get started. 

(1) Get out of your head.  A lot of us get stuck in our heads more than we’d like.  Instead of being present with the other person, we think about ourselves.  What can I get out of this meeting? What can I say to win the other person over? How can I prove my worth?  When that happens, we are in a one-sided dialogue. Getting back to the present is key.  What does that look like?  It is about shifting our focus from ourselves to the other person.  Get curious about the other person.  Understand what is important to them. Ask about what keeps them up at night.  Find ways to help them.  These are the keys to meeting the other person where they are and making a real connection.     

(2) Fill up your tank.  The best leaders I have worked with are able to stay calm and composed in the middle of chaos.  It is not an easy task.  Too often, we are pulled in many different directions all at the same time.  All these activities and tasks drain us.  We end up feeling rushed, overwhelmed, and stressed.  It is practically impossible to show up as our best self when we are operating like a car that has run out of gas.

So, what do we do?  First, monitor your gas gauge throughout the day.  Ask yourself “What do I need right now?”  Second, pull over at a rest area.  Third, fill up your tank. This could mean taking a short walk, rescheduling a non-urgent meeting to later or taking a series of deep breaths.  Remind yourself that many tasks at work and life can wait. You are always better off taking care of yourself so you can show up in a way that you are proud of. 

(3) Get feedback. We all have blind spots.  Great leaders are aware of their blind spots and how they impact others.  I recommend talking to your boss, peers, or team to get a sense of how effective your leadership is. Ask them questions like: What are the things I do well? What is the one thing I can do better that would have the biggest impact on how I show up as a leader? What advice do you have for me to improve?  Pick one impactful behavior to work on and find a way to track it. Remember, taking small, actionable steps is the only way to have meaningful change. 

Please reach out to me if you need professional assistance with this topic. Drop me a note through the Contact page if you have any questions.