Present equals presence

The last month has been a really busy one, lots of great meetings, and different types of events that I have run and spoken at for exciting clients in different sectors.
However, it is fascinating how questions regarding presence recur, even in these very different scenarios with very different people.
For those that have heard me speak on the importance of image and impact, you will have heard me talk about the importance of your personal image:

To make a positive first impression to help you build rapport and a professional relationship.
To communicate a credible and consistent image on-going.

The point of today’s article is about the times when you are making an impression on someone. I talk about your personal image mattering all the time, particularly in a professional context, but it's amazing how easy it is to forget about it.

Even if you think you are entering a room inconspicuously (think of a networking event in a large room with many guests), someone will notice you and that impression is formed. They could be a brilliant contact for you, if you've made a neutral or worse still, negative impression when they glimpsed you; your chances of getting to speak to them and engage with them positively are diminished. Your opportunity missed. The minute you are present, you have a presence.

Very often it is just a small tweak of mindset and some awareness that can avoid such a situation (that you’d more than likely never be aware of).

I had a call with someone I know fairly well professionally last week. He's a very friendly, helpful person who I have seen run a great lunchtime workshop. We originally got to know one another when we were sat next to each other at a seminar a couple of years ago. The event I had seen him at most recently was where I was the speaker and he was an attendee.

On our call last week, we were talking about his personal impact and he asked for my view. A question I get asked a lot, as I’m sure you can imagine! I had to think hard as I have met him a fair few times now so had to think about my first impressions and what others may see. My feedback was that his first impression doesn't do him justice, it's not particularly negative but not half as good as when he's in the spotlight, running something! At the lunchtime workshop he'd been running, he stood tall, had great open body language and engaged everyone well - he led the room with presence.

The truth is, once you know what matters it is all down to awareness and what you are preparing yourself for. Think about when you have an important meeting or presentation to make, you mentally prepare yourself for that and think more about how you will be perceived. Consider the presence you want to have and the impression you want to make.

Assuming you have given thought to your personal image and the presence you want to have (yes it is something you can work on and still be authentic), particularly what is appropriate for different scenarios, it is then thinking about when you are 'on stage'.

Presence - when and what

What this really means is thinking about all the times there is anybody around who you have a professional relationship with or who you may want to build a professional relationship with. So walking into a networking event, going to meet a new client, going in for an interview for internal promotion, going to pitch - think of yourself as 'on stage' and make your best possible first impression the minute you enter the building, not just the room. Even if they are people you have met before, you need to maintain your image so think about what you are communicating. In case you need a reminder - 55% of a first impression is visual so keep your body language and appearance top of mind and be clear when your 'on stage' moments are, they are likely to be more frequent than you think! It's not just about the very first moment you think you are meeting someone. They often spot you long before.

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From the minute you are present, you need to consider your presence

Presence - when and what