One of the most important traits of leadership presence is your ability to be fully present. Many business leaders are constantly distracted by their technology and communication aids such as BlackBerry, cell phones, email – the very tools we acquire and use daily to help boost our productivity and leadership effectiveness.

Are you addicted to technology and it getting in your way of being fully present with the people that you want to lead?

Our business days are consumed with To-Do lists, lengthy and frequent meetings, phone calls and other interruptions that demand our attention NOW!

Executive coach and leading authority on the subject of Achieving Leadership Presence, Adrienne Milics of Parnassum Executive Coaching and Training explains why it is important:

“To keep up with the increasing demands and fast pace of business, many business leaders have developed the basic survival skill of multi-tasking. Its negative impact on the leader is a chipping away at his/her leadership presence – that important and often elusive leadership trait that can make or break a leader’s credibility.”

Five Things You Can Do to keep technology in check and ensure you are fully present with your people, projects and career:

1. When you meet with people, turn OFF your cell phone or Blackberry. Actively do it in front of them to make a statement. Be fully present.
2. When you are on conference calls, lower your laptop computer or move away from the monitor. Close down and disengage from email. Be fully present on that conference call.
3. When working, select one key project or initiative at a time. Focus on it 100% of that moment. Put everything else aside. Clear your desk and allow yourself to be fully present in mind and body on that key initiative for a set period of time. Be fully present.
4. If you are expecting an emergency phone call, manage expectations and let your people know that you must leave your phone on in case you get this call. By doing this, they will understand that it is not about them. You are fully present with them and have managed their expectations effectively.
5. Learn more about Leadership Presence – what it is, why it is important and how to develop more of it for your business and career success.

To sharpen your leadership presence you can work with an executive coach. Check out:

• Adrienne Milics, Parnassum Coaching & Training
• Kathy McAfee, Executive Presentation Coach and Certified NLP Practitioner.

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