FastTrain

There is one question I can guarantee I will be asked when I am running courses on presence: How can you teach someone presence? Isn’t it just something you have or don’t have?

I would reply by first of all exploring a definition of presence which usually includes: standing out in a crowd, drawing the attention of everyone in the room, the ability to calmly and confidently influence a discussion.

It seems that presence can be defined as an energy – think of Barack Obama. An energy which sets him apart. So if we want to acquire that, we have to define it further. How does that energy manifest itself?

Steady and direct eye contact, controlled movement without nervous fidgeting, a confident smile, open and relaxed body language, a compelling and resonant voice…and so on.

So if we seek to increase our presence in any situation – for example when chairing a meeting, making a presentation or being interviewed for a job – then it is necessary to be aware of the technical skills that can be developed.

So in answer to the question, ‘Can anybody have presence’, the answer is a resounding yes. But there are skills and capabilities which have to be developed and practised to achieve this.