Leadership Presence and Voice: The Two Core Assets Every Leader Must Develop

Photo by Igor Omilaev on Unsplash

When I was younger in my professional career, I worked for a leader who was largely absent from the team's primary work. He led effective meetings, genuinely cared for his people, and clearly had the experience to diagnose problems and develop agreeable solutions. But he rarely joined us in the work we were all tasked with. This reality left me with the impression that he was either too busy to be bothered with the real day-to-day work or he enjoyed the intellectual side at the expense of the experiential reality. But it also left me rudderless as a young team member. I felt isolated and alone at work and was unsure if I was being faithful and effective toward the goal. There was little field development, which left me less than confident that I was on the right track.

Later on, I experienced another leader who was very present in the work, but regularly communicated in vague generalities, was very protective of giving anyone else authority to lead, and rarely made timely decisions to allow the team to be efficient and effective. Over time, I lost emotional energy in that particular setting, unsure whether anything I did really mattered or made a tangible difference.

I have also served under many truly great men and women who led very well through their leadership presence and voice. And I have learned much from every expression of leadership — both positive and negative.

Growing up in the world, I have been exposed to many different types of leaders, as have you. Every leader brings their whole selves into their expression of leadership. It cannot be otherwise. They bring their gifting, personality, and sense of mission with them. If they are a conscious leader, their goal is to effect some level of change in, with, and through those they lead. How they lead deeply matters and dramatically affects the organizational culture, teams, and individuals they lead.

If the currency of leadership is communication, then the primary assets of leadership are presence and voice. Both of these assets communicate constantly.

Presence is how a leader shows up—into every room and relationship.

Voice is how a leader speaks into the world—through their words and guidance.

The reality of leadership, especially if you are a rising leader with increasing scope and responsibility, is that your role is highly leveraged. What do I mean? Your every posture, movement, communication, and decision has an outsized influence. It has an outsized ripple effect. Distance and isolation are barriers that need to be taken seriously and overcome. Every titled leader automatically has an air of presence. Every room they enter, they either take up space or create space for others to contribute. Your voice, including the words you say and those you don't, communicates. Did you know that the primary word for “presence” in Hebrew and Greek in the Bible literally means “face.” One way you can think of the quality of your presence and voice is to consider if the people you lead have your full face. Your presence and voice matter more as your leadership responsibilities grow.

Three Aspects of Leadership Presence to Consider

• Grounded

  • You bring steadiness rather than urgency.

  • You know who you are and who you are not.

  • People feel safe, not reactive, around you.

• Attentive

  • You give people full attention, not divided presence.

  • You listen generously and with curiosity.

  • You notice not only what is said, but what is unsaid.

• Embodied

  • You stand in your convictions without posturing.

  • Your non-verbals align with your message.

  • You take responsibility rather than taking control.

Three Aspects of Leadership Voice to Consider

• Curiosity

  • You ask more questions than you make declarations.

  • You acknowledge what you don't know.

  • You invite feedback and demonstrate a learning posture.

• Clarity

  • You say what you mean without ambiguity or hedging.

  • You communicate simply, even about hard things.

  • People walk away knowing what matters and what to do.

• Constructive

  • Your voice builds, guides, and cultivates rather than blames or tears down.

  • You help others see possibilities and pathways.

  • You bring hope and compassion grounded in realism.

Allow the above points to serve as a diagnostic. How are you doing in these six areas?

Leadership Prompts on Presence and Voice

Leadership Presence Prompts

• What emotional tone do I consistently bring into the rooms I enter?

• Do people feel more calm, seen, or supported after interacting with me?

• Where am I most tempted to rush, react, or self-protect—and why?

• How well do I listen without interrupting, planning my response, or fixing?

• What would it look like for me to show up more grounded and attentive this week?

Leadership Voice Prompts

• Is my communication clear, or do people often leave uncertain about what I mean?

• Do my words reflect my deepest values—or my fears and insecurities?

• Where do I need to speak with more courage, even if it’s uncomfortable?

• How can I pair truth with compassion in my next important conversation?

• Whose voices do I need to invite in so that mine is wiser and more humble?

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