Key Matters Guide
Resource Centre

Leadership information, ideas and assistance

Help us improve

Is there anything on this site which doesn't work or which you think could be improved? Please help us to get better.
Email us to give us feedback about what works well, or not so well, for you, or to make a suggestion or report any problems you encounter.

PS. One thing you may notice is that we use Australian English spelling. So we're sorry if you are from another part of the world where words like colour and organisation look strange to you, but we hope you can still understand us, despite the different spelling.

The leader's gift of presence

All good leaders have a certain presence. In good times a leader's actual presence may be replaceable with a sort of 'virtual presence': representatives, newsletters, staff bulletins, email communications or even media appearances may all substitute for being personally present.

But when things are not going so well, when staff cuts loom, a crisis strikes or uncertainty is in the air, nothing can substitute for a leader's real, live, actual presence. Sometimes you just have to be there. You have to lead in person.

Meet with your staff, tour the site of the disaster, see the damage which has occurred, touch people, listen to their stories, offer empathy and demonstrate your understanding. To do these things, you have to be present.

Your actual presence has both symbolic and real power to begin the recovery process.

You can't send a representative. There is no more important place to be. There is nothing more important to be done. When things go wrong, your presence is required.

Quote of Note

"Strange as it sounds, great leaders gain authority by giving it away."

James B Stockdale

© Kerrie Mullins-Gunst
This article is copyright, but permission will usually be given to reproduce it, if requested. Contact us to request permission and see the reprint guidelines here>>.

To see more articles Click here>>.

Many more resources are available in the Key Matters Guide Resource Centre. Click here>>