Leadership Presence

Leadership presence ensures that we are aligned and leading authentically. It is the foundation for how leaders influence and inspire purposeful action in ourselves, on teams, in organizations, and in life. It is knowing who we aspire to be as a leader, and using what we value most to drive leadership effectiveness, behavior, and performance.

Patterns of thought drive our patterns of behavior. The way in which we think creates most of our actions. Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as a “no brainer” – even homeostasis is regulated in the brain (and thank goodness because I would probably forget to breathe or regulate my heartbeat and die!) What we keep in our thoughts shows up in our leadership, providing the essential opportunity to be more intentional and aware of how we show up as a leader.

Past generations especially, focused more on vocation over purpose, delighted in asking children, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Through my growth as a coach, I have begun encouraging people to ask, instead, “How do you want to be when you grow up?” Although it doesn’t quite flow off the tongue as well, it puts the focus on intentional values and character, which drive behavior. It starts children on a path of realizing there is a choice in that regard.

How you want to lead is rooted in why you lead – and that is rooted in your values, purpose and mission. How often do we have the opportunity to get thoughtful and clear in this space?

We at Emergent know that developing a clearer Leadership Purpose and learning to apply it more intentionally and mindfully will make you a more effective leader. This is the starting point in the Emergent Leader experience and the key concept and takeaway from Leadership Presence.

How you show up matters. As a leader, you often set the tone with and for others. Imagine if you were doing that even more effectively than you are today!

“Everyone is a leader; the question is how well are we leading?”

“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

– John Quincy Adams (6th President of the United States)