I have been fortunate to work with great (and some not so great) leaders. The great ones exhibited the trust, character, integrity, etc as well as the calm confidence that makes you proud to be a follower. This is the position that all aspiring leaders can aspire.

Thanks for the post

Hi Kevin:

Thanks for sharing the astute observations. Your comment speaks to three distinct areas: underlying motivation, understanding, and application/outcome. As long as these areas are addressed properly, and aligned with core values, the change should be a welcome one. Thanks again for stopping by Kevin.

Can a person learn command presence?  Sure, to an extent. But to make the change effectively, the person has to first understand what comes out of the other side of the process and accept that he/she will become a different person. For some that is welcome change; for others it is not.   

Hi Bruce:

Thanks for your comment and your questions. I believe a number of people have a misperception in regard to the value of presence. While I think many people tend to stereotype military leadership as one-dimensional, both my direct and indirect experience have consistently shown military leadership to be very advanced, and very effective.

With respect to introversion being a leadership disadvantage, it doesn’t have to be, but it can easily become a hinderance if not understood and addressed. Not all leaders are extroverts, and not all extroverts are successful leaders. It’s rarely a person’s hard-wiring that determines their success or failure, but their understanding of how to best use their natural tendencies, and how to develop well beyond their natural giftedness. Great leaders never stop learning and are very purposeful about development. 

With regard to adding a few more tips, being likable, while not necessary, never hurts. It’s simply less of an uphill battle when people like you as a person in addition to respecting you as a leader. I’d also suggest that having a good sense of humor never hurts either. Lastly, and this may touch a few nerves, but appearance matters. I’m not talking so much about what you wear, but how you wear it. The best leaders have a bit of spit and polish whether they’re dressed-up or dressed-down. They are comfortable in their own skin, and make others comfortable as well. I hope these thoughts help.