You know when someone walks into a room and everything shifts?
They’re not the loudest. They’re not the flashiest. But something about them makes people tune in, lean forward, pay attention. That’s personal presence.
At Elev-8, we work with managers who want to lead with more impact, without having to over-perform. And one of the biggest ‘unlocks’ is realising that presence isn’t about dominating. It’s about showing up. Fully. Authentically. Intentionally.
Why this matters
You can have all the technical skills in the world, but if people don’t feel your presence, they’ll struggle to trust, connect, or follow you.
Great managers aren’t always the slickest presenters. But they are present. They listen actively. They create space. They build trust with their presence before saying a word.
Here’s what strong presence brings to the table:
- You influence without forcing
- You engage without performing
- You lead conversations that matter
Without presence? You risk being tuned out. Misunderstood. Or worse…ignored!
A quick pulse-check
- Do you ever find your mind drifting during 1:1s or team meetings?
- Do people repeat things because they’re unsure you were listening?
- Do you sometimes overcompensate with ‘energy’ to appear more confident?
If so, it might be time to check your presence.
Try this with your team: the 3 circles of presence
This activity explores how you show up, not just that you’re there.
💬 Circle 1 – inward energy. You’re distracted, shut off, maybe feeling anxious. Others experience you as withdrawn or disengaged.
💬 Circle 2 – connected energy. You’re focused on the person in front of you. Engaged, curious, present. This is where trust builds.
💬 Circle 3 – forced energy. You’re trying too hard. It can feel overbearing or fake. People sense you’re performing rather than connecting.
🧠 Ask yourself: Which circle are you in during your daily interactions? Which one helps you build real connection?
Final thought – Presence beats polish
You don’t need to be perfect. You need to be present.
Whether you’re running a meeting, having a tough conversation, or catching up informally, people remember how you made them feel. And that feeling starts with presence.
At Elev-8, we believe personal presence isn’t just a soft skill. It’s a leadership tool.
Want to go deeper?
Personal presence is one of 30+ proven, practical sessions in our Ready to Go suite of management development topics. Built to help your managers lead with connection, clarity and confidence.
