Leading with Presence in a high-pressure world
Learning to be in a state of embodied presence has been a life-transforming practice. It fundamentally changed my relationship with work, improved my performance, my relationships, my ability to move through limiting patterns and beliefs, and my capacity to think strategically & systemically.
One of the things i often hear with new clients is: “I’m struggling to be present, with my work, my team, and my family.” It’s the constant difficulty in staying in the now, and being truly with what’s right in front of us.
It typically looks like constantly projecting into the future, worrying about past decisions or future outcomes. Hitting an important goal, only to immediately fixate on the next quarter and lose the joy of the moment. Stuck in overthinking throughout the day and into the evening, disconnected from family, joy, and rest.
These aren’t isolated issues. They are a part of a wider epidemic. One of the leading causes of stress, anxiety, and burnout today isn’t just workload. It's living in our heads, disconnected from the present moment.
The Antidote Is Ancient and Still Transformative
Ancient wisdom and indigenous traditions, particularly in the East, speak to the power of presence, of coming back to the now and focusing our attention on what's here in front of us.
Yet, because of the pace of change, we feel we need to meet society at that pace. So we speed up our days, our minds, and force our bodies past their threshold.
When we approach work and life this way, it has a counterproductive effect. It leads to less clarity, more stress, confusion, and a diminished ability to think strategically and see the bigger picture.
Why Presence Is a Leadership Superpower
What's often overlooked in leadership development is that leadership is felt through someone’s presence.
A scattered, stressed-out leader transmits that energy through the whole team. But a grounded, calm, and present leader creates spaciousness and opens the door to trust, innovation, and deeper connection. It helps create a sense of psychological safety.
When we’re present, we can tune into the energetic, collective field of our team, increasing attunement to our team's needs. We strengthen our intuition and deepen the relational field as a whole. Our access to higher strategic and systemic thinking expands. We are able to slow everything down. Coherence is created.
Presence allows us to come home to what truly matters. It brings joy and fulfillment into each moment. It provides us agency to consciously choose our thoughts, actions, and how we respond to difficult periods and emotional states. It's a key practice to restoring the balance between our personal and professional lives.
If this article resonates, I invite you to sit with this question:
What shifts in my day when I slow down and really pay attention to what’s right in front of me?
If you’re a leader or high-achiever feeling the impact of not being fully present and you're curious about how to build real presence in your leadership and life then drop me a message.
With gratitude,
Mark
