Today, I spoke to John Baldoni, who is an internationally recognized leadership development consultant, executive coach, speaker, and author of 12 Steps to Power Presence: How to Assert Your Authority to Lead (Amacom 2010). In this interview, John talks about leadership presence, influencing others, and more.
Is it possible to be a leader, but not confident?
Consider that leadership is about bringing people together for common cause. So if you lack confidence who would want to follow you? But let’s be clear. Confidence emerges from accomplishment. An emerging leader may not be as confident as a more senior leader; that’s a positive. Too much confidence without anything to back it up is hubris. This is not to say that confident leaders do not have doubts. Sure they do. Over time they have learned to trust their abilities, as well as the good people around them; make the right decision at the right time so that the organization wins more often than it loses.
What is a genuine leadership presence and what does it take to develop it?
- Leadership presence is “earned authority.” A leader is given authority due to position but he or she earns it through personal example and professional competence.
- Leadership presence is the projection of a leader’s authentic self. That authenticity is comprised of a person’s beliefs and convictions and reinforced by behavior. That is, it’s not “the talk” that matters it’s “walking the talk” that makes the difference. It is what leaders do to convince people to believe in them as people and as leaders.
- Developing leadership presence is matter of practice and experience. You observe leaders you respect and seek to emulate the way they connect with others through their communications and by their personal charm. You reinforce your presence with example. That is, you do what you say you will do.
- Leadership presence is the radiance of authenticity. That is, you radiate sincerity and you have what it takes to make good things happen. It is different from charisma; charisma is a gift, but it’s the sheen on metal. Presence is the real deal – a person’s mettle.
How do you get people to buy into the decisions that you make?
You create a picture of what you want to happen and why it is important. Very often before the decision is made, you solicit input from those who must carry out your decision. You want their input because they are the ones are going to implement what happens next. Once you have made your decision you make it clear that everyone must support it because the team can only succeed if everyone pulls together. Dissent is welcome prior to the decision, but afterward the leader has the right to expect everyone to pull together and move in the same direction.
What is an example of a leader who has genuine leadership presence?
Classic examples of those with leadership presence are presidents like John Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. They radiated charisma and drew people to them. Frances Hesselbein, former CEO of the Girl Scouts and now chairman of the Leader to Leader Institute, generates a strong sense of presence. People respect her executive abilities but also her warm charm and deep concern for others. 
But charisma is only an attribute of leadership presence so when I think of leadership presence I think of men and women from all walks of life that each of us knows. Consider the school principal who can greet every student and often their parents by name; she radiates a sense of authority. There is also the CEO who works in an open plan office. He is accessible to all and projects the feeling of being centered.
Is it hard to write a book in under 70 pages and get your point across? How did the writing of this book compare to your last few?
I am at heart an essayist. It comes from my background as a speechwriter. That is, I know how to get to the heart of the matter and explain it in plain and simple language. I wrote 12 Steps to Power Presence to give readers a sense of what leadership presence is and how they could implement it in their leadership lives.
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John Baldoni is an internationally recognized leadership development consultant, executive coach, author, and speaker. In 2010 Top Leadership Gurus named John one of the world’s top 25 leadership experts. John’s newest book is 12 Steps to Power Presence: How to Assert Your Authority to Lead (Amacom 2010). Readers are welcome to visit John’s website, www.johnbaldoni.com. His work centers on how leaders can use their authority, communications and presence to build trust and drive results. He is the author of nine books on leadership, including Leading Up: The Subtle Art of Managing Up and Lead By Example, 50 Ways Great Leaders Inspire Results. John is an online leadership columnist for Harvard Business Review, Bloomberg/Businessweek, Fast Company and the Washington Post.
