Presence: A Practical Path for Women in Leadership
Subtitle: How clarity and steady communication strengthen leadership impact.
Several years ago, while I was in a leadership meeting, my mind was in overdrive, and the room stood still. My attention was scattered with so many competing priorities. The conversation around me seemed to be in a different dimension. I was physically in the meeting and even speaking.
I walked out feeling I was completely detached from my body. I had completed the task and delivered the information. I knew that I had responded to the pressure rather than delivering presence.
This is a feeling that I am sure many women can relate to. The work and pace increase, and expectations rise way further than you realized. Presence is the first thing that slips away from you, which shakes your foundation of clarity and communication.
Presence is a state of clarity and steadfastness. It is demonstrated in how you speak, how you listen, and how you lead. We women in leadership positions carry a higher weight of expectations around tone, emotional intelligence, and communication. Presence is like the foundation that holds all these demands. It also supports authority and credibility, which is so important in complex environments.
Research from McKinsey shows that women in leadership are taking on a much larger load in communication and emotional intelligence. Women are generally more interested in their teams’ well-being, morale, and relational activities.
This increases exponentially during times of change and high workload. Emotional intelligence and emotional labor impact leadership effectiveness and team cohesion. Read more here: McKinsey Insights
In leadership, these shifts appear quickly:
1. Communication gets faster.
2. Messages become more ambiguous.
3. Small problems seem bigger.
4. The quality of decisions decreases.
5. Teams perceive uncertainty.
The patterns are not personal defects. They are the signs that your leadership effectiveness has decreased. Presence grows when leaders understand what supports it. Awareness is the first skill.
I started paying attention to my own signs of overload, and I noticed moments when I rushed, spoke without thinking, or carried emotions from one conversation to the next. This awareness allowed me to make different choices. I created a simple five-step structure to help myself stay steady in demanding situations. It came from real experience, not theory. I do this when I need to slow down my mind and regain clarity. This habit later became ALIGN.
– Awareness: Notice your internal and external state.
– Let Go: Release what is not relevant to the current moment.
– Intentional Pause: Create space before responding.
– Ground: Reset your attention and physical cues.
– Navigate Forward: Act with intention.
It was this framework that gave me habits to focus on my presence, especially in stressful work. I could steady myself before I engaged with other people. Presence really changes those leadership moments for the better. Slowing the pace of communication helps people feel heard and understood. When you are in the middle of constant change and change fatigue threatens your team, grounded communication makes all the difference. Better decisions are made when we are taking time to slow down to find the clarity that allows for better decision-making. Read more here: McCrystal Group Insights
Presence shows in these actions:
– You choose words with care.
– You listen without rushing.
– You communicate what matters and leave out what does not.
– Your tone stays steady even when the situation is not.
Many women feel that they are not confident enough to become leaders. Presence is the attribute that begins to build this confidence. It allows you to lead with clarity, up-level your confidence, and strengthen your decision-making. This works because it stabilizes you internally before you respond.
Simple ways that I use to support my presence daily:
– Pause before important communications. Three slow breaths and one clear intention.
– Transition pause between meetings. Let the last conversation end before the next begins. I use 10-Minute Resets.
– Ground your body. Lower your shoulders and feel your feet on the floor.
Small habits can be supportive in leadership roles and can be done quietly, with no one else even knowing.
Presence is available to every woman in leadership. It grows through habits, practice, and awareness. Start with one small step. It will shift how you show up and how others respond.
Name: Lori Lynn Smith
Professional Title: Strategic Leadership Director
Bio: Lori Lynn Smith is a Strategic Leadership Director with over twenty years of experience leading complex programs and senior teams. She helps leaders stay focused, calm, and effective in demanding roles. Her approach centers on clarity, presence, and practical habits that support lasting performance.
Social Media Handles:
