Showing Up as a Leader: The Power of Authentic Presence
There’s a quality that great leaders carry. It’s not about a title or a corner office. It’s how they show up. The room feels different when they enter. Not because they demand attention, but because they bring presence: a steadiness, a clarity, a way of being that others trust.
What we’ve learned from decades of walking alongside leaders is that presence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s cultivated. Strengthened over time. It’s the practice of noticing yourself, noticing others, and leading from the inside out.
What Presence Looks Like
Presence in leadership is many things:
Listening deeply. True presence means being fully with another person, not just waiting to speak.
Reading the room. Presence isn’t only inward; it’s relational, too. Leaders who carry presence notice the subtle shifts (be it energy, silence, restlessness) and respond with intention.
Grounded humanity. Presence isn’t perfection. It’s showing up real, sometimes messy, but willing to reflect and keep learning.
Creating possibility. Presence opens the door to new thinking. It invites others to stretch into what’s possible, to trust that the future is worth investing in.
Listening Deeply
Listening is more than hearing words. It’s slowing yourself down enough to tune in to what is said, and what isn’t. Deep listening is how trust is built. It’s eye contact that lingers, nods that invite someone to keep going, silence that makes space.
One of our team members, Sam, described it: “I’ll sit at a table with you, usually one-on-one, listening intently, then offering my insight only when it feels appropriate”. Presence starts here … in listening that doesn’t rush, and in responses that meet the moment.
If you want to strengthen this, try ending a meeting by saying back what you heard most clearly. Not a summary of tasks, but a reflection of tone and emotion. People feel seen when their inner world is noticed.
Reading the Room
Leadership presence isn’t only about your inner state. It’s relational. It’s about sensing the energy of the room and adjusting with care.
One of our coaches, Kate Butcher, put it simply: “I notice shifts in the room. Who is quiet on the edge, who is moving, jiggling, doing email. I hope people would see I care by noticing and asking questions”.
This is a practice of awareness. Scan for what’s happening beneath the surface. Intentionally ask the quietest person in the room for their thoughts. Call a break when energy lags. Kate’s signature is re-energizing a room by lightening the mood with a few laughter yoga exercises.
Presence shows up in these small adjustments.
Grounded Humanity
There’s a myth that presence is about perfection. That to be respected, you need to be polished at all times. We see it differently. Presence is deeply human. It comes through humility, honesty, even humor at times.
As one coach reminded us, “We mess up… but we can collectively move and get things done together”. Presence is showing up real not hiding your flaws, but owning them. Apologizing when needed. Laughing at yourself. Returning to the work.
Leaders who carry this kind of presence give their teams permission to be real too. And that creates belonging.
Creating Possibility
Presence creates space. It’s not only about who you are in the moment, but what others discover is possible in your presence.
One of our colleagues, Courtney Caldwell, said it this way: “I wanted to work with people who believed in possibility and curiosity and had the tenacity to make ideas happen”. That kind of presence is magnetic. It invites others to expand and believe in what’s ahead.
For leaders, this means naming what’s possible even when things are uncertain. Holding space for hope while also being real about challenges. Presence fuels vision. It points toward what could be.
Why Presence Matters
Presence may be a leader’s most important asset. It calms storms. It gives people a sense of being seen. It anchors teams in times of uncertainty.
Presence is also deeply tied to authenticity. When leaders show up aligned with their values, their impact is amplified. This is at the heart of how we approach executive coaching, not just building skill, but shaping who you are in the room.
Lessons & Practices
Want to practice presence in your own leadership? Here are a few quick takeaways:
Pause before you speak. Presence often lives in the silence that comes before words.
Notice what isn’t said. Scan the room. Who hasn’t spoken? Who looks unsettled? Presence is about noticing.
Lead from the inside out. Take time to reflect on your own values and triggers. Our Inside Out Leadership Development approach is built on this practice.
Invite feedback. Ask trusted colleagues how they experience you. Presence grows through awareness of impact.
Anchor in humanity. Allow yourself to be real. Presence doesn’t mean performance, it means connection.
Keep Exploring
Learn how our Enneagram work with teams helps leaders grow presence through self-awareness.
Explore our reflections on rest and retreat for leaders - another practice that strengthens presence.
Join our free First Friday leadership webinars to be in community with leaders practicing these skills each month.
Presence isn’t a single trait to master. It’s how you show up. Every day. In every interaction. And when you do, people feel it.