By Dianna Booher

Presence is not an all-or-nothing commodity. Consider a continuum with your physical attributes, natural talents, communication skills, and character traits plotted along the way somewhere from one end to the other between "low presence/low impact" and "high presence/high impact." All of us can inch a little closer to the high end every day as we present ourselves with awareness and intention.

So how do you make sure that you develop that certain mystique of personal presence?

Understand that there really is no mystery after all. Becoming a persuasive communicator leads to credibility and influence. And you can develop those skills and attributes. You can have the same effect as CEOs, celebrities, civic leaders, and any influential individual if you develop your personal presence to its greatest impact.

You can increase your ability to connect with others and communicate with credibility, power, and significance. You've heard it said that someone has "the presence of mind" to do X. Likewise, your presence involves the mental, physical, and emotional aspects of who you are and how you are. To put it simply, your personal presence involves how you:

LOOK
Your body language, appearance, movement, dress, surroundings

TALK
The words you choose, the physical qualities of your voice, how you use your voice

THINK and communicate your thoughts
How you organize ideas and information, what you decide to pass on or withhold, how you frame issues

ACT
The attitudes, values, and competence your actions reveal

As you increase your personal presence, you will strengthen your credibility and expand your influence. With that stronger impact, you'll increase your chances of achieving your personal and career goals and the mission and goals of your organization.

For a 2-minute video on what personal presence can do for you, click here.