It’s time to make the critical shift from leading the business by yourself to leading an organization of people. At P2Excellence, we help you navigate the uncharted territories of organizational growth with clarity and confidence.
A new year always invites reflection.
Not the kind that pressures us to reinvent ourselves, but the kind that asks us to notice where we are and what is being asked of us now.
For many leaders, especially those in senior roles, January brings a quiet awareness:
- The work feels different than it used to.
- The expectations have shifted.
- The rooms are more complex.
- The decisions carry more weight.
It’s not that we don’t know what to do. It’s that leadership is no longer only about doing.
At this stage, leadership becomes increasingly about how we show up and who we are when we do.
Over the years, I’ve often heard leaders say, “I want a seat at the table.” What they’re really saying is, I want my voice to matter.
But here’s what experience teaches us: no one gives us a seat. We earn it. And strong leaders don’t ask for seats, they learn how to set the table.
- They bring clarity instead of urgency.
- Calm instead of reaction.
- Presence instead of performance.
When they enter a room, others sense steadiness and authority, even before a word is spoken. This is what we call executive presence.
Executive presence isn’t polish or charisma. It’s not about being louder, sharper, or more confident on the surface. It’s about internal alignment when authority is held rather than borrowed, and gravitas grows naturally over time.
As we begin this new year together, my writing will focus on this next phase of leadership growth:
- Moving from doing to being.
- From performing a role to inhabiting it.
- From earning trust through effort to sustaining trust through presence.
This isn’t a departure from The Leadership Journey we’ve already been on. It’s the next step.
And like all meaningful leadership growth, it happens gradually - through reflection, awareness, and practice.
A January Noticing Practice
As you move into the year ahead, hold this question gently, not to answer, but simply to notice:
- When you enter important rooms (meetings, conversations, decisions) what do others experience first: your effort, or your presence?
There’s no right response. Only awareness.
Here’s to another year of growing, not just in what we do, but in who we are becoming as leaders.
Join the Conversation
Let’s continue this discussion on LinkedIn. I’d love to hear your insights, experiences, and successes (or stumbles) as you strengthen your Emotional Intelligence.
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Here’s to a month of clear, impactful communication together!