Develop Your Inner Presence for More Effective Leadership
As you already know, being a leader can be lonely. Even when others acknowledge and support your leadership, you might sometimes not feel like a leader. Your internal sense of yourself as a leader—i.e., your internal leadership presence—might stray close to imposter syndrome sometimes. Then there’s the risk that this might “leak out,” affect your behavior and influence how others perceive your leadership. So it’s understandable that you want to feel and act like a leader, inside and out.
Leadership Presence
First, let’s consider what leadership presence is. Some say that it’s made up of several facets. It’s the ability to take command of a room, assume a leadership role among various audiences, share your thinking and opinions with confidence, and strike a balance between talking and listening with a communication style that’s both persuasive and effective.
Others note that executive presence is a subset of leadership presence. It’s defined as the ability to connect authentically, build confidence in others, and inspire and motivate people toward action.
That’s what others see. But what does it mean to have internal leadership presence? To deep down have the foundation of inner support that helps you feel—and ultimately behave—like the leader you are or aspire to be?
A Foundation for Your Internal Presence
This internal foundation is found in the Hidden Image. This is the inner you, the “you” that no one else can see. It includes your values, motivations, beliefs, ethics, confidence, self-esteem, abilities and attitudes. In other words, your hidden image holds the traits that your life is built upon. They govern everything you do and determine your ultimate level of success.
The externals of leadership can be learned. Anyone can be taught how to walk into a room and make a smashing impression. But it’s the substance and motivation behind your performance that will ultimately sustain or ruin that impression. Understanding your hidden image and feeling like it’s aligned with your behavior will help you think and feel like a leader, even during those times when you’re a bit wobbly.
What Should a Leader Feel?
A good leader should have integrity, self-awareness, courage, respect, empathy and gratitude, according to The Center for Creative Leadership. Leaders should be “learning agile” and flex their influence while communicating and delegating effectively.
If you think about it, these solid foundational basics are usually taught to children, and they can help you strengthen your internal leadership presence. Consider these and a few other characteristic traits from a recent children’s etiquette consultation that we delivered in our “ABC’s of Good Character” teachings:
- • Joyful – we find joy in life and in each other.
- • Brave – we face challenges head on.
- • Dependable – we do what we say we’re going to do.
- • Forgiving – we don’t hold a grudge.
- • Industrious – we figure things out when we need to.
- • Zealous – we approach life with energy and zest.
- • Thankful – we’re grateful for what we have.
- • Generous – we give cheerfully.
- • Neighborly – we show caring for others with a smile and a greeting.
- • Questioning – we approach life with interest and curiosity.
It’s simple basic details like these that can help you develop your internal presence and the feelings that support you as a leader.
When considering what you need to feel like a leader, follow these final tips to let your inner executive shine through.
- • Act with confidence, even if you need to fake it temporarily. Know that the real feeling of confidence will present itself in time
- • Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You’ve aligned yourself with a strategic network if you’ve made it to a leadership role. Don’t forget them in a time of need, and ask for the help you desire.
- • Support your team. Be there for them and they’ll be there for you.
- • Stay positive, even when the world and its challenges are closing in on you.
- • Stay true to who you are by understanding, growing and sustaining your personal hidden image.
Bringing an aligned and true internal presence to the forefront of your professional development will allow you to personally feel and then project to others the great leader you are or wish to grow into. What characteristics or qualities do you want to develop to strengthen your inner leadership presence and feel like a leader?
