The Power of Presence: Unlock Your Potential to Influence and Engage Others

it is critical to get your head around what type of presence you want to demonstrate, the values you want to convey, and how that matches up (or doesn’t) with how others currently perceive you.

The best way to improve your body language is to focus on your intention and make sure your body carries that message as well. (How you dress also counts as a form of nonverbal communication, with a similar need for alignment. See the sidebar for tips on how dress, as physical expression, can strengthen your presence.)

I define having an intentional presence as understanding how you want to be perceived and subsequently communicating in a manner so that you will be perceived the way you want. It means aligning your thoughts with your words and actions. And it requires a keen understanding of your true, authentic self, as well as your impact on others.

When you pay attention, you can sense your body language striving for alignment.

Having a personal presence brand of accountability is a deeply held core value of mine, which spans across my entire life and career. I’m chronically on time, will do almost anything to meet a deadline, and own up to my commitments probably far beyond what is expected of me. (This has a downside too, which rears its ugly head in my schedule.) When

I am routinely asked for the Right Way to stand, talk, gesture, or present. In fact, there is no Right Way. How you should stand, talk, gesture, or present depends on what you want to communicate. Anything else erodes authenticity—and for many people, confidence as well.

When I address these top executives, I introduce the concept of the red blinking light. When a leader walks into a room, it’s as though a red blinking light is flashing a message: “This is important!” When the CEO goes into a meeting, the importance of that meeting rises. If he decides to skip a meeting, its importance is reduced. Leaders have to b

Determine Your Personal Presence Brand

I took the feedback to heart and literally looked in the mirror. I realized that my most relaxed expression is a frown. In other words, if I’m doing nothing I’m frowning. Not at all the presence I want to convey! So I worked hard to adjust my neutral expression to be upturned, or a slight smile. Now that expression feels natural to me.