Help Yourself by Refining Your Team’s Presence
You’ve probably seen or heard plenty of information about how to help your team present themselves as professionals, stand out and get noticed for all of the right reasons. But how can a well-positioned team presence help you succeed as a leader?
Not to sound too self-serving, but there are benefits waiting for you in this. Marketing executive Allison Hornev has said, “… a good leader provides opportunities and coaching to allow their team to thrive. So, it’s less about the leader and more about the individual, but if the team looks good so will the leader.” When you promote your team members’ growth, as individuals and as a group, everyone wins — including you and the company.
What is Well-Positioned Team Presence?
Teams that have a well-positioned presence promote a professional image and behave in a way that effectively represents their leader(s) and the organization’s brand image. A coherent professional presence allows everyone to be heard more clearly and understood without distractions.
Think about it a moment. How do your team members behave when they interact with clients, with you and among themselves? Whenever and however they’re communicating — online, offline, via email or text or in person — their reputation is at stake, along with your reputation and the company’s. Sometimes small tweaks and refinements can make all the difference, leading to happier clients and more growth and profitability.
So exactly what is professional presence? It’s more qualitative than quantitative, which makes it tricky to put a finger on exactly what it means. In general, professional presence encompasses factors such as someone’s:
- • Communication style
- • Self-confidence and appropriate assertiveness
- • Personal appearance, including appropriate clothing, grooming, etc.
- • Body language, like eye contact and a firm handshake
- • Correct amount of personal space
- • Proper introductions
- • Electronic and in-person etiquette and techniques
Although it’s difficult to adequately describe presence, it can be felt by others. It’s doing “little” skills and behaviors like these well that can set you and your team apart. So it’s critical that you align your own and your team’s professional presence with the corporate brand.
Clients need consistency, and you and your team have ownership in this. As a leader, you need to have a process in place that allows you and your team to present a coherent, positive self to the world. Intentionally, consistently communicating a well-defined presence will ultimately amplify your credibility, authority, professionalism and success.
Your Leadership Success
What are some of the other benefits that come to you as a leader when your team is using principles of professional presence in their daily activities?
- • Your team will have a stronger connection to the company’s brand and increase their ownership in outcomes.
- • You will have established congruent standards you can rely on that support your collective efforts.
- • You will all have a common language and vernacular that supports the company’s culture.
- • Your team will be heard, invested in and developed — a team that will genuinely support and endorse you as the leader, along with the company’s mission and vision
- • You will know that you have a faithful, supportive team that stands by you, upholds your vision and is willing to step in when needed (e.g., work extra hours, take over other duties)
When appearance standards, behavior, communication (verbal and nonverbal), digital presence, thinking and mindset are aligned consistently in your team members, there’s a better chance for a great outcome. When the team is successful, the leader is successful. And when the leaders are successful, the company is successful.
Is it time to clearly and consciously define your own and your team’s presence, positioning yourself for success? If you’ve used the principles of professional presence in developing yourself and/or your team, please share! And if you’re not sure or would like to explore this more, we can help.
