The Power Of Presence
- Apr 27, 2023
- 3 min read
Written by: Malik S. Sarwar, 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.
We all strive to enhance our impact in whatever we do, which allows us to feel empowered. One way to do this is by practicing the ‘power of presence.’
Think of leaders who impress us because they have a presence. Mandela, RBG, Kennedy or Harrison Ford (in the movie Air Force One) might come to mind. What do they have in common? They have a presence that draws us to them, that makes us want to listen to and even emulate them. We can improve our presence in three ways: building our confidence, strengthening our communication skills, and deepening our compassion. These are known as the three C’s.
Confidence, Communication & Compassion
Confidence
Confidence means digging deep within ourselves to discover our strengths and bring them out. It is a good practice to verify our strengths with those closest to us, because they can give us honest feedback.
Think about the things we have been successful at, both small and big. What traits did we display to make those successes a reality? Sharpen those strengths. A word on weaknesses–if any–is to be aware of them.
Yet we ought to spend more time honing our strengths, than fixing our weaknesses.
Now harness those strengths to grow our confidence.
Communication
It is the words, the music, and the dance; what we say, how we say it, and our body language.
Words matter, and the power of three matters even more.
Veni, Vidi, Vici; I came, I saw I conquered, blood, sweat, and tears. Three are easy to focus on and remember.
The quality of words matters too. 'I Have a Dream’ by MLK Jr. is now legendary. Suppose he had said, “I have a plan.” No one would have remembered.
Music is the variation of our tone, high to low. Keep sentences short and pause for effect. If we want to emphasize a point, repeat it twice; repeat it twice.
And the dance is our body language. It is how we conduct ourselves.
Every time Usain Bolt won the 100-meter dash, he would raise his arms high and wide. He also practiced like that. If we practice using our words and our body language before a big presentation, we will come across as better communicators.
Compassion
Compassion is the combination of the passion we show along with our care for others. It embodies why we are doing what we are doing and what is our purpose in life. When we believe deeply, we radiate and have a greater impact. In summary, try to focus on confidence, communication, and compassion consciously every day. We will magnify the power of our impact.
Malik Sarwar is a Senior Partner at Global Leader Group. As a Wealth Management executive, Malik has operated at the leading edge of the Global Wealth Management industry with 30+ years of experience as a senior executive across the US, Asia, and MENA. He has a great breadth and depth of expertise in Wealth Management and Strategic Leadership, guiding organizations toward leadership positions that help their clients achieve their life goals and dreams. Rooted in his extensive global experience, Malik’s war stories enable his audience to apply practical skills for enhancing overall business quality and productivity. He is a noted wealth management speaker, moderator, and chair at industry conferences on: WM best practices incl. digital transformation and exceptional client experience; moral leadership; women’s empowerment in WM; mega-trends like ESG/impact investing, wealth transfer; achieving primary advisor status, team leader excellence and financial advisory platforms/products innovation.
Global Leader Group, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Global Leader Group is a leadership firm of proven practitioners who share a deep-rooted desire to make a difference by helping organizations FIND & BUILD leaders to deliver excellence. They do that through three main pillars:
Leadership & Learning: They partner with organizations to accelerate performance and belonging by pushing the boundaries of learning. Offerings: Design and implementation of Leadership and Learning Strategy and Frameworks, World-class Learning Design & Experiences, Coaching, and Speaking (Keynotes & Appearances).
Talent Search (External Retained Recruiting): In addition to helping organizations build current leaders, Global Leader Group adds world-class leaders to managements teams around the globe.
Practitioner Consulting: Allow the experience of their practitioners to advise and transform your business through their expertise in Driving Digital, Retail Banking, Wealth Management, Customer Journeys, Sales Management & Incentives, and Strategic HR (Culture, People Processes, Organizational Design, and Team Effectiveness).
Their clients include leaders at Citi, AstraZeneca, HSBC, Google, the Governments, Airbus, Manubhai Jewellers, ACUMA, Sensata, numerous RIAs, Banks, Credit Unions, and more.
