Leaders project power through their leadership presence.

You can define leadership presence as the presence of authority imbued with a reason to believe. What matters to us most is authenticity. That cannot be faked, but it can be amplified. For example, George Washington was a brave soldier and commander but as our nation’s first head of state he knew he had to play a larger than life role. He rode in a gilded carriage pulled by white horses; he opened his home regularly to anyone who wanted to dine with him. Ronald Reagan was an actor by trade and he traded on those skills to help him connect with voters as well as with anyone he needed o persuade, be it a congressman or the leader of another nation.

Leading by being
While leaders project power through presence, it is followers who authorize it with their approval. Consider these examples:

 - The plant manager who holds meetings on the shop floor to be close to the work;

 -  The school principal who walks down the hallway greeting by name the children who grin and send him a cheerful greeting;

 - The Army captain who stays with his men when the action gets hot and provides a voice of calm when all hell breaks loose;

 - The coach who shows players how to play the game right and in the process demonstrates what it means to succeed in school and in the community;

 - The research director who asks questions to stimulate new lines of inquiry and genuinely listens to responses;

 - The quarterback who steps into the huddle and every player looks to him for the play but also for direction;

 -  The mayor who holds weekly meetings with staff directors and encourages them to present their ideas about how best to serve the city; and

 - The CEO who works in an open plan office and eats in the cafeteria so he can stay in touch with people and listen to their concerns as well as their ideas.

You can think of many more examples from your own life. Whichever example you consider, it is important to understand that just as leadership is reflection of earned authority, leadership presence, which enhances the leadership moment, is derived from the support of others. It cannot be assumed through birth or heritage, though many kings and queens have acted as if they have it and don’t. Leadership presence is a form of communications and as such can be taught and put into practice.

Presence is earned
Leadership presence, the power to lead, does not come automatically with rank. While many CEOs and generals may hold heavy titles, and their presence may seem lofty, the proof of their leadership is what they accomplish. People get put into positions and often don’t succeed. Laurence Peter documented that phenomenon a generation ago with the Peter Principle. Such failures often stem from a lack of leadership presence. These managers fail to build rapport with their people. They assume it is their way or the highway and do not accept the counsel or opinions of others.

One of the most convincing forms of presence is the silence that occurs between leader and follower. No pomp. No circumstance. Just being there. This leadership presence occurs on the factory floor when a new hire is schooled by a veteran. You find it on the battlefield in the quiet moments between officers and their troops. And you find it in boardrooms when the CEO has the support of her team. No words are spoken. There is a quiet sense of trust that has developed among all parties. But here’s the key point. While trust is a reciprocal act between leader and follower, it starts with the leader. He must trust his followers by giving them a stake in the enterprise as decision makers and contributors. Followers repay that trust by demonstrating their faith in the leader. That trust contributes to leadership presence in its most pure form and it is something to which all leaders can aspire.

Fire back
This column will be focused on providing insights into leadership presence and more broadly into leadership and communication. My experience as a leadership and communications coach as well as a frequent workshop and keynote speaker has afforded me the opportunity to learn about the challenges that managers face in a wide variety of different industries. These columns, along with my vodcasts, will be an opportunity for me to share some insights.

Issues raised in this column will provide suggestions, but how you implement those ideas is up to you. I would like to use this column to engage in a dialogue with our readers. You are welcome to provide me with feedback on what I write or on challenges facing you. While I am sometimes introduced an “expert” in leadership, I consider myself a student of the topic. I always consider my listeners or my readers as experienced or insightful as I may hope to be. And so I welcome your suggestions.

Enjoy the column!


To watch a short video on leadership presence, visit www.johnbaldoni.com/askjohn/