Written by: Mari Carmen Pizarro, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Stress in the workplace has become as common as rush hour traffic. We all hate it, and we all just expect it to be there.
But what if you could be the kind of boss that alleviates the stress of your team just by being present?
When a leader shows up as frazzled and stressed out as their team, that only emphasizes the stress that they already feel.
But leaders who show up in control, with clarity and direction, have the opposite effect. Their presence has the power to instill a sense of confidence that the team will get on track and successfully achieve its goals. We call this “Power of Presence.”
5 Strategies To Elevate Your Power of Presence At Work
Research conducted by the Center for Creative Leadership found that there are 5 Strategies that effective leaders apply to increase the power of their presence at work.
1. Wholeness: Effective leaders are attentive to themselves as a whole person and look to develop themselves intellectually, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. By taking time for reflection and spirituality and harnessing wisdom from across life and career roles, they show up to work in a peak state, mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared for the challenges ahead.
2. Intention: To have a powerful presence, leaders must have clarity on their purpose. Show up to a room ready to listen, make decisions, and lead. Powerful intentions include setting your goals, adapting them as needed, and staying open to possibilities. How clear are your intentions when you show up to meetings?
3. Authenticity: This means knowing who you are as a leader and acting on your own values. It will require some courage, but you will be surprised by the way others start to respond to you when you lead from a place of uncompromised authenticity.
4. Connection: Effective leaders know how to prioritize relationships before a stressful situation arises. They take the time to make connections that create allies (in and out of the workplace) and to develop mentoring relationships that instill trust. This trust prays dividends when difficult moments arise and decisions need to be made. Regardless of your level, ask yourself: how many other leaders are you mentoring right now?
5. Organizational Awareness: Effective leaders understand organizational systems and are significantly less inclined toward frustration when things aren’t going smoothly. They have a firm understanding of the organization as a whole and can bring perspective to a team that might be getting stuck in the weeds.
Today, take time to evaluate how your presence is affecting your team. Are you adding additional anxiety? Or are you showing up powerfully and bringing a sense of peace and order to the situation? If not, focus on these 5 strategies and start elevating your power of presence. I promise your team will thank you.
With love,
Mari Carmen
Mari Carmen Pizarro, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Mari Carmen Pizarro is the Founder of Whole Leadership Systems and Chief Human Resources Officer at Avet Pharmaceuticals, Inc. She is also the creator of The International Women’s Leadership Academy. With over 30 years of experience in leadership and human performance, Mari Carmen is an expert at integrating emotional intelligence with influence and leadership. Mari Carmen is a seasoned Executive Coach, High-Performance instructor, Keynote speaker, and TEDx presenter.
