Typically, people in management or leadership roles are not evaluated by the way they develop other leaders or by the impact they’re having on others by their personal presence. This kind of evaluation takes a back seat “to getting the numbers.” However, everyone would agree that understanding and valuing people skills would make a huge difference to generating the “numbers” more effectively~

Every time you interact with others you are potentially strengthening or weakening your relationships with them. Your personal presence bolsters the fiber of your relationships making a significant difference to your results. Your personal presence is how others experience you. It is a broad definition but here is one way to view it, think of yourself as a “brand.” Every time you email someone or respond to an email for example, you are making a statement about your personal brand. The question is: what kind of experience would you like others to be having of the brand of “you?”

Food for thought:

–You’re doing a presentation for your team: What is the experience you want your team members to have during the presentation? How do you create that experience? What is the experience you want them to have of you?

–While emailing your colleagues or customers, how do you open and close those communications? Have you thought about whether this communication should be executed in person or over the phone? Email is overused. Do not debate complex or sensitive matters by email- even a voicemail message gives you the opportunity to make your “tone” and intention crystal clear.

–When giving “hard to hear” feedback to a co-worker: What is the experience you would like this person to have during this conversation? What can you do to support this outcome? What is the experience you want to have?

–You’re at a networking function: how do you want others to experience the brand of “you?” Personal presence is not only about raising your awareness of how others experience you, but becoming more intentional about cultivating your human “being-ness.”

Over time you will become more effective because you can take control of the qualities you want to cultivate in yourself and change the behaviors you judge are getting in your way~

So what kind of experience would you like others to have of you? What qualities do you need to cultivate within yourself to achieve this? (eg’s: patience, really listening, becoming more acknowledging, being more present, etc.) For more information on improving your leadership presence: http://www.newavenueleadership.ca