Elevate Your Leadership Presence

Have you ever looked at other leaders and noticed that people are aware of their presence?  They present themselves like they are meant to be in a leadership role.

Leadership presence is the combination of how you carry yourself, communicate, and create trust, respect, and influence. It's not just about confidence or charisma; it’s the blend of authenticity, clear communication and boundaries, knowing what you stand for, and your ability to connect with and motivate others. Whether you're interacting with your team, peers, or senior leadership, it's about being perceived as more than competent, its about having the ability to drive results.

When you reflect on your leadership, how would you describe your presence?

Presence is critical because it shapes how you are seen and trusted as a leader. A strong presence helps you gain buy-in, loyalty, and lead through uncertainty, all of which enhance team performance and collaboration.

But presence isn’t just for those you lead; it’s also about how you’re perceived by those above you. Senior leaders are looking for people they can trust with greater responsibility. Your ability to demonstrate confidence, strategic thinking, and emotional intelligence can signal you’re ready for the next step.

How to Develop and Project Leadership Presence

For Your Team and Peers

• Do you stay calm and composed, or do you allow the situation to determine how you react? Leaders with strong presence manage their emotions, projecting calm and control, whilst getting the job done.

• Align your verbal and non-verbal communication. The tone of your voice, your posture, eye contact, and even the pace at which you speak all contribute to the perception of confidence and self-belief. Ensure your body language reflects the authority and empathy you want to project.

• Consistently follow through on your commitments and hold yourself accountable. Trust is the foundation of presence. 

Your Presence Perception from Above

Creating presence for leaders above you involves a different skill set, where strategic thinking and subtle influence can be more important.

• When engaging with senior leaders, you must communicate with clarity and conciseness. Show that you can think beyond immediate operational issues to address the broader business context. Connect your work to the larger strategic goals of the organisation.

• Find the balance between projecting confidence and sharing your ideas and listening. Expressing well-thought-out opinions and demonstrating the ability to challenge ideas constructively (when necessary) will show that you are not just a "yes person".
• Understanding the priorities, goals, and pain points of your senior leaders and working in line with those priorities. Show that you can pre-empt challenges and get ahead of the play. 

• To be seen as a leader, you need to make your contributions visible. Share your successes, but focus on the impact of your work on the wider organisation, rather than individual achievements. 

How to Know What Your Leadership Presence Is and Improve It

How are you perceived in meetings? Are you seen as decisive and calm under pressure? Reflect on how you handle challenging conversations, whether you project clarity and composure, and if your body language supports your verbal messages. The following tips are key to understanding and building your presence.

• Continuous reflection: After key meetings or interactions with senior leaders, reflect on what went well and what you can improve. Did you project confidence? Were your contributions clear and aligned with strategic objectives?
• Develop your Emotional Intelligence (EQ) to understanding and manage your emotions, as well as reading the emotional landscape of others, to enhance your interactions. 
• Identify opportunities to build your presence: Practice public speaking, work on your executive writing skills, and engage in leadership mentoring and coaching to gain feedback on the core elements of your leadership presence. The more you refine these skills, the more comfortable you’ll feel projecting your presence in the moment.

Getting the job done is often not enough to secure your next step, you need leadership presence. It's about how you project confidence, influence others, and handle challenges. Leaders with strong presence inspire trust and show they’re ready for bigger responsibilities. Without it, even the most skilled performers risk being overlooked for those who demonstrate authority and clarity in every interaction.