Leadership Presence for Your Best Year Ever

We’ve got one quarter remaining in 2017. Are you ready to end the year on an outstanding note and position yourself for even more success in 2018? Of course you are! And I want to help you do exactly that.

Let’s begin by pondering three questions:

• What is it that you see that others don’t see?
• What value do you bring to your organization?
• How do you want to be perceived in your organization?

Until you can answer these questions, you haven’t fully inhabited your role. You’re likely still marching in place and not going anywhere. You haven’t hit upon your leadership presence.

One of my favorite leadership presence coaching successes is with Lynzi Ziegenhagen, founder and CEO of Schoolzilla. Lynzi spends a large part of her time speaking to audiences – inspiring potential investors, clients and community members to support Schoolzilla. When we first began working together, her facial expressions and even the way she carried herself were giving off a stand-offish vibe. We realized that Lynzi had no strong, powerful professional female role models growing up – and she was struggling to find her authentic voice. I asked her, “Who do you want to be as a leader?” She simply didn’t know.

So I gave Lynzi an assignment to collect pictures and quotes from women who are out there in the world, showing up as their full, authentic selves. That assignment jumpstarted Lynzi’s ability to look deep inside and find the true value and vision she brings to the world. From there, we crafted a more compelling story about Schoolzilla that moves listeners to action. And we worked on how to improve her ability to smile, stand up straight and present persuasively to her audiences – and to do it authentically and with great impact.

The result: Lynzi experienced a dramatic difference in her confidence and her ability to engage people. she started showing up as a bigger, bolder leader – so much so that within weeks, a well-known billionaire philanthropist wrote a big check to support Schoolzilla. Because Lynzi finally understood her own authentic leadership gifts, everyone around her began recognizing her for the value-delivering visionary she truly is.

You must find the courage to be your big, bad self. Leadership presence makes all the difference when it comes to achieving your full career – and personal – potential. Now it’s time for you to put these tips into practice. I recommend that you begin by downloading my Explain Your Role exercise. Spend some time on this and you’ll begin to zero in on the value you truly bring to your organization. What sets you apart from everyone else?

Next, learn to switch from talking about tasks to talking about results. The Tasks and Results exercise will help ensure that people see you the way you’d like to be seen – not just the king or queen of checking things off your to-do list.

These two steps will move you closer to your next job or your next promotion – and to your best year ever.

As I often say: “Remember, if you don’t define yourself, then someone else will. And their definition will inevitably be inadequate.” Your career is in your hands – and I’m here to help you succeed.