Cultivating Deep Presence

Presence. A gift you bestow upon the world.

How to unravel something that’s deep within us, something that feels intangible, yet it isn't.

Imagine walking into a room stressed and distracted, people around you sense it immediately, creating an atmosphere of tension.

Now picture entering with a calm, composed, centred demeanour.

Felt the difference!

Your presence sets a tone of trust and confidence, safety and connection, opening the way for powerful communication and effective problem-solving.

Presence is an inner power.

A quality that’s often overlooked when we talk about Leadership.

People who come from this inner power have the capacity to transform the situation merely by their presence. Their Presence alone makes all the difference.

'Presence' is not about what you do, what you say or what external power or position you hold, It's about WHO YOU ARE!        

That can be felt and experienced by whoever comes in contact with you.

Wonder what kind of presence you bring to a space? Be curious to explore!

After all, Effective Leadership is not just about knowledge, great vision, strategic thinking and powerful decision-making. It’s much more than that.

It demands this subtle quality that might be overlooked though can’t be missed: ‘The presence’.

Understanding Presence in Leadership

It’s the unique energy you bring into any situation and interaction, shaped by your inner world - your feelings, thoughts, beliefs, values, biases & judgements.

Before you even say a word or take an action, your presence begins to influence your environment and the people around you.

It’s not something you can act out or fake, at all. It's a genuine reflection of 'your inner state of being - what you've become'.

Presence in leadership is about being present, fully engaged and aware in the current moment - attuned to your thoughts, emotions, and surroundings.

Let’s look at the inner work that goes into cultivating deep presence, like self-awareness, mindfulness and listening to self and others.

Inner listening to Self

To cultivate deep presence, start with inner listening. Tune into your thoughts, emotions, and intentions.

Aligning your thoughts and intentions to the desired state of being and vision enhances clarity and calmness in decision-making.

Imagine You’re entering in a meeting for a project that’s not going well.

You have a preconceived notion that your team is not putting in the required efforts, not performing well, may be they are not fully invested in your vision.

Introspect - what’s your Intention from this meeting?

Do you really want to go the bottom of this challenge, find out the barriers, boost their morale, inspire and brainstorm with them for effective strategy and an excellent team work.

If yes, drop your judgements and preconceived ideas.

Then tweak your thoughts to align with your intention, like below:

They want to give their best and are an excellent team. I don’t know what’s going on. Let me find out what could be the reason for them to not be able to perform at their best. We can together overcome the obstacles and barriers.

Do you see you'll enter the meeting with a different energy and state of being?

For a deeper shift, you'll need to challenge your thinking and do the inner work to truly know the truth behind your beliefs and thoughts.

Deep Listening to others

Next, practice deep listening to others too. Practice dropping your judgements through self-forgiveness.

Go beyond just active listening. Receive the person as a whole.

Practice the state of “I don’t know” and "I want to know". Come from a space of genuine curiosity and stillness within.

This creates a space for real connection and understanding, strengthening your influence and relationships.

The Impact of Your Energy

Take a stock of your energy! Your feelings, thoughts and beliefs create your energy and that’s why you can’t fake it (till you truly become it :)

When we’re centred and grounded, our presence is calm and focused. It directly influences our decision-making and leadership efficacy.

Conversely, a chaotic inner world translates into reactive and stressed interactions.

Check, what kind of energy do you want to embody to align with your intention in the current situation?

Do you hold the energy that’s required for the action you are about to take or are you feeling hassled and stressed out.

This self-awareness will help you align your actions with your highest desires, fostering inner power and calm.

Cultivating presence begins with connecting to your inner power and spiritual core, ensuring that your external actions reflect your higher selves.

Self-awareness: Becoming Mindful of Triggers

Being mindful of the moments when you get irritated, anxious or upset due to small external events. When you react (from ego), rather than respond from a place of mindful awareness and higher consciousness.

This awareness is crucial for maintaining your inner peace and intentional response, allowing you to lead from authentic presence rather than external pressures.

Practicing mindfulness practices like Conscious breathing, somatic meditation, yoga and many others are wonderful in cultivating self-compassionate mindful living.

Remember, irrespective of your age, position and designation, through your being, you’re always creating an impact in your world and in this world.

So, be aware and conscious of the impact you are creating merely by your presence (aka existence).

More power and deep presence to you!

Love,

Saloni xo

Spiritual Life Coach for Leaders, CEOs & Coaches