IQ Tip: Presence

Written by Kim Allen Thursday, 22 March 2012 00:00

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Presence is a rare quality in a world filled with 20-second sound bites, nonstop instant messaging, on-line relationships and gnawing anxiety. People with presence have an indescribable quality. They are surprisingly attentive and undistracted and we enjoy being 'in their presence'. They may even seem to be more interested in us than we are.

We are aware of presence in:

• Mentors or leaders who, just by walking in a room, immediately boost the dynamic of the environment
• Teachers or doctors that bring sincerity and care to the time they spend helping us learn or heal
• Stores we frequent because of the unmistakable warmth we feel there
• Great actors and actresses whose movies we never miss, so sure are we of the consistent presence and charisma they exude

We are also aware of the lack of presence in:

• Co-workers more interested in their mobile devices than the conversation at hand
• Staff meetings characterized by frequent interruptions, side conversations, and antagonism
• Busy clerks who never make eye contact or add a hello or thank you
• Politicians who merely read from a tele-prompter adding no humanity to words they say

Presence is probably more tangible than we think and perhaps one day we will be able to measure a magnetic 'field of presence'. Could this presence be heart-generated coherence in the world of personal magnetics?

Observe those around you. Who shows up with a presence that is caring, magnetic, supportive, motivating and enabling? If so, they are probably steeped in their core values and operate from their heart at a very high ratio.

Use the power of your heart and explore ways in which you can expand your presence.

Take care,
Kim Allen

Adapted from From Chaos to Coherence by Doc Childre and Bruce Cryer.