Your presence IS your impact, and your energy is contagious. So, as a leader, how do you show up?

For 22 years, I've given talks, written columns and books, and developed coaching and training programs, supporting leaders to show up more effectively by focusing on their own energetic awareness, presence, and impact. It's been an incredible journey.

As I've interacted with people who have heard me speak, read my books, or experienced my work, there has been a full range of reactions to it.

Some embrace the idea very quickly:

"What? My energy is contagious? How I show up is setting the tone for my leadership and organization? I have total control here? Oh my gosh, I am so excited to be able to influence my results AND feel good!"

And others completely resist it:

"No, that doesn't apply to me. My people need to hear this — I don't. I'm running a company, I don't have time to tend to my energy and presence. That is the 'soft stuff'. You must be from California, how cute."

I exaggerate here a bit on the latter... but not much. I've noticed the full spectrum of reception, adoption, integration, and, ultimately, related impact.

The beauty is that it's never too late to understand this concept, and to make changes quickly.

The beauty also is that if you're trying to create a better workplace culture, learning & development program, innovation initiative, or increase performance in your company, the majority of the time the solution comes down to energy.

If you feel like you've already tried everything, you have likely been focusing on the wrong issues. The root comes down to the energy of your workforce and your energy as a leader.

With some awareness, intentionality, a decision, and some tweaks, you can shift this over time and — in some cases — immediately.

Where am I coming from?

My "formal and professional" background is in kinesiology, leadership, coaching, performance, business (and even a bit of mediation), combined with deep training and attention in intuition, physical training, presence, and a lot of necessary "woo" to bring it all together.

But, more importantly, my background is grounded in the experiences of being dropped into the middle of organizations and rooms with the most senior of leaders and watching over and over again what happens when energy is not addressed (or at least intentionally used).

While the blame for unhealthy organizations, subpar results, ineffective training, and toxic leadership is often placed on behaviors, actions, and/or poor strategies — these are only the tip of the actual iceberg.

Lying under the surface is a lack of alignment and intentionality around these initiatives, and the contagious, energetic impact of how people show up.

This energetic impact shows up in you and your people: it's the energy you bring into the room, your intentions for others, your level of presence. This energy influences your actions and actually leads to the quality of culture, performance, innovation, leadership, and results that you create.

A realistic and transformational methodology

To address this and support in shifting the energy, I created the IEP Method®, which leverages your Intentions, Energy, and Presence to create a solid Intentional Energetic Presence® (IEP).

By focusing on your IEP, it helps you and your people lead more effectively, be more accountable for the energy you bring to the table, and take care of themselves and their own energy so as not to take on negativity or projections from others. It's an easily accessible and implementable framework to develop more authentic and positive impact.

How are you showing up as a leader?

In this column, I'll talk a bit about this each week in different ways; I hope you'll join me and subscribe for updates when new issues are posted.

For now, this is an invitation to consider the impact you are creating:

• The energy you are bringing.
• How you are taking care of yourself.
• Your presence and level of intentionality.

Whether you are aware of it or not, all of these factors impacting your ability to lead, feel good, connect with others, create psychological safety for people to have honest conversations and take risks, and ultimately show up well with you.

All of these are also necessary for solid leadership, innovation, and sustainable culture development.

The great news is this starts with you. It starts with each of us. We create the culture together. Whether you are in the C-Suite or just getting started in your career, being intentional and responsible for the energy you bring to the table is the first place to look to create change.

And there IS a method for that. #iepmethod

Ready to get started on your journey with the IEP Method®? Here are some resources:

Contagious Culture: Show Up, Set the Tone, and Intentionally Create an Organization That Thrives (McGraw-Hill, 2015) In this book, you'll learn about energy in the organization, how to build your IEP as a leader and team, and ultimately how to build a positively contagious culture.

Contagious YOU: Unlock Your Power to Lead, Influence, and Create the Impact You Want (McGraw-Hill, 2019) After Contagious Culture, many wanted to build their leadership capacity and specifically more tools to help them strengthen their IEP and ability to navigate relationships with those who didn't think energy applied to them however were burning out their workforce. (I wrote Contagious You to support both.)

If you'd like to order either book in bulk for your team/event, contact us and we help coordinate purchase.

Our Company Culture Blindspots eBook is available for download on our website. You'll learn how to think about about the energy, intentions, and new ways to address culture. (Most companies MISS THIS entirely!)

Experiential Keynotes. Our key messages focusing on HOW YOU SHOW UP, YOU CREATE THE CULTURE, and YOUR ENERGY AND PRESENCE IS YOUR IMPACT are game changers and a great way to set the tone for any event, conference, executive retreat, or all-hands session. I am booking now for the rest of this year and dates in 2025 and 2026, so please reach out if you'd like to check availability and request our speaking packet.

Let's Connect. If you're ready to discuss bringing this methodology into your company, reach out and we'll talk. It's a great fit for innovation departments, talent, and honestly, anything performance or results-related in your company.