What Is Leadership Presence?
Leadership presence is the ability to connect authentically, build confidence in others, and inspire and motivate people into action. It can also be called having gravitas.
Leadership presence is made up of several facets – it is the ability to take command of a room, assume a leadership role amongst various audiences, share your thinking and opinion with confidence, and strike a balance between talking and listening such that your communication style is both persuasive and impactful.
What Are the Behaviours that Enhance Our Gravitas as Leaders?
- Perceived confidence through words
- Perceived confidence through body language
- Ability to ask clear, meaningful questions
- Ability to craft and defend a clear point of view
- Being able to hold steady and participate effectively in debate
- Being able to stand one’s ground
- Expressed passion
- Asking questions at the right “level”
How Does a Leader Expand Their Presence?
- Show up as a whole person
- Lead with what we care about
- Begin a conversation that others want to continue
- Focus through your body
- Cultivate sustainable curiosity
- Start by standing still
- Find the story in everything
- Hold something back
- Investigate your impact
- Build our “muscle memory”
Why Is Leadership Presence Important to Leaders?
“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.”
Sheryl Sandberg
Key Questions to Reflect on as a Leader
- How do I show up in a room?
- How do I own the space?
- How do I engage, inspire and motivate my audience?
- What is my impact on others?
- How is my presence felt by my team, when I leave the room?
Articles
Books
Amy Jen Su and Muriel Maignan Wilkins
Own the Room: Discover Your Signature Voice to Master Your Leadership Presence
Listen
TED Talks
Watch
What People Say
If you are looking to work with someone who has an infectious passion for making positive change happen, you will love working with Hannah. She has a wealth of experience at a senior leadership level and is hugely committed to the diversity agenda. I have benefitted personally from Hannah’s wisdom and guidance on these issues on a number of occasions.
Andy Buck
Founding DirectorLeadership Matters
When it comes to authentic and courageous leadership, Hannah is unbeatable. Her value-driven approach allows her to be precise and focused whilst taking an empathic approach. One of the leadership traits I admire the most in Hannah is her commitment to asking the difficult questions that others avoid, and this has been evident in her work encouraging Diverse Leaders. She is fearless and highly skilled at driving change, even in complex situations. Hannah is a catalyst and can cause a mindset shift in one conversation. Her leadership creates leaders.