The Power of Presence

About the Author

Kristi Hedges is a communications expert, entrepreneur, and certified leadership coach. Her clients include Fortune 500 corporations, global professional services firms, entrepreneurial businesses, national associations, and the U.S. government. Hedges is a leadership contributor to Forbes.com and Entrepreneur.com and a speaker for Vistage International and The Founder Institute. She resides in the Washington, D.C. area. In her book The Power of Presence, Hedges shares her expertise and experience, providing a comprehensive guide to enhancing executive presence.

Main Idea

The Power of Presence delves into the concept of executive presence, the critical "it" factor in the corporate world. This book explores how individuals can develop and enhance their presence using the I-Presence™ model, which combines communication aptitude, mental attitude, and authentic style. Hedges offers strategies and exercises to help readers become more intentional, individual, and inspirational in their interactions, ultimately improving their ability to influence and engage others.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Part I: Intentional: Understanding and Managing Your Presence of Mind
• What Are You Thinking?
• Your Actions Are Speaking So Loudly I Can Hardly Hear What You’re Saying
• Stopping the Negativity Loop
• Presence as Perception
3. Part II: Individual: Forging Strong Relationships
• Go Ahead, Trip Over Your Own Perfectionism
• Balancing Competency and Vulnerability
• Trust: The Ultimate Gatekeeper
• A Note to Emailphiles, CrackBerry Addicts, and TurboTexters
4. Part III: Inspirational: Communicating to Build and Motivate Followership
• Inspiring Change From the Brain Down
• From Vision to Visionary
• Declarations Create Possibilities
• Strategic Shock Value and Other Ways to Create Shining Moments
5. Bringing It All Together: Presence in a Pinch
6. Afterword

Introduction

What sets certain individuals apart, enabling them to effortlessly command attention and inspire others to follow? Kristi Hedges answers this question by unveiling the secrets of executive presence through her I-Presence model. This book is designed to help everyone—from team leaders to CEOs—harness their potential and develop a compelling presence that is intentional, individual, and inspirational.

Part I: Intentional: Understanding and Managing Your Presence of Mind

What Are You Thinking?

Intentional presence begins with understanding how you want to be perceived and ensuring your thoughts, words, and actions align accordingly. This requires a deep understanding of your authentic self and the impact you have on others. Hedges emphasizes the importance of aligning your mental aim with your desired presence: