Book Description
Everyone recognizes leaders with “presence.” They stand out for their seemingly innate ability to command attention and inspire commitment. But what is this secret quality they exude, exactly?
Executive and CEO coach Kristi Hedges demystifies this elusive trait, revealing that leadership presence is the intersection of outward influencing skills and internal mental conditioning. Using her I-Presence model, the author shows how anyone—regardless of position or personality—can strengthen their impact. Readers will learn how to build trust as the foundation for leadership, eschew perfectionism for authenticity, banish limiting thoughts and behaviors, and galvanize their team through visionary, inspiring communications.
Stellar technical knowledge, a strong work ethic, excellent presentation skills—none of these tangible traits puts people on the career fast track as readily as a compelling presence. Filled with profiles of leaders with powerful presence and the latest neuroleadership research translated into actionable habits, this authoritative guide puts a little-understood, but potentially game-changing, tool within everyone’s reach.
From the Inside Flap
Hands-down, executive presence is the corporate it factor. It’s directly linked to your ability to get noticed, forge trusting relationships, and get others on board with your vision.
But few people realize their true presence potential. Think of the otherwise competent team leader who doesn’t command respect in executive meetings, or the overextended boss who never seems to know what’s really going on with his employees, or how to motivate them.
The good news is that limitations such as these are not set in stone. In fact, they’re completely surmountable with the strategies and exercises in The Power of Presence, a highly readable and deeply insightful book that cuts to the heart of presence—what it is exactly, and how to get more of it.
The Power of Presence shows everyone—introverts and extroverts, job seekers and senior executives—how to improve their presence. In her distinguished career as a CEO coach, public relations executive, political consultant, and award-winning entrepreneur, author Kristi Hedges has witnessed even the highest-level people struggling to connect and communicate, often tangled by nerves and confused about how others perceive them. Her experiences have helped her develop the unique I-Presence™ model, which is equal parts communication aptitude, mental attitude, and authentic style. And now, you can cultivate the skills to inspire and motivate by focusing on the three core aspects of presence:
1. Intentional: Determine the type of presence you want and the values you want to convey, and how they match up with the way people currently perceive you.
2. Individual: Understand how to build relationships that foster trust, and that drive business, loyalty, and career success.
3. Inspirational: Learn what the master communicators do to inspire others, including using powerful language, motivating through change, and presenting to audiences effectively.
Presence isn’t just a commanding personality or unabashed confidence. It’s much deeper, achieved over time, and driven by your own authenticity. Each day will bring a new opportunity to reshape or finesse your presence—in your dealings with colleagues, your contributions in meetings, your presentations to groups large and small. With masterful strategies and practical tools, this book will help you rid yourself of limiting behaviors, provide new ways of thinking and doing, and probably change your beliefs about what makes an executive strong.
Kristi Hedges is a communications expert, entrepreneur, and certified leadership coach whose clients include Fortune 500 corporations, global professional services firms, entrepreneurial businesses, national associations, and the U.S. government. She's a leadership contributor to Forbes.com and Entrepreneur.com, and a speaker for Vistage International and The Founder Institute.
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