Leadership Presence

September 22, 2003
What can leaders learn from actors? Stage presence, say Halpern and Lubar, former entertainers themselves and cofounders of the Ariel Group, a corporate training and coaching firm. In this first book, they translate stage presence into the PRES model. PRES, an acronym for being Present, Reaching out, Expressiveness and Self-knowing, represents the four qualities that make up leadership presence—"the ability to connect authentically with the thoughts and feelings of others, in order to motivate and inspire them toward a desired outcome." Although the content is aimed at so-called soft leadership skills, the book follows a highly practical model. Each of the four characteristics is discussed in a tightly organized section that boils down to three rules and three guidelines for understanding and applying the quality. Each chapter is supported by a series of useful practice exercises, including some solid advice for dealing with stage fright. Most of the examples used in the book are drawn from either acting or business; the business examples are derived from common situations (how to handle a presentation, connect with the workforce in a new job, relate to co-workers and subordinates). As the book progresses, the "acting as leadership" metaphor gets a bit strained, but the techniques and tactics remain appropriate for the business audience. Using the craft of acting as the delivery medium is an entertaining twist on the typical interpersonal skills book, even if thoughtful readers may be hard-pressed to accept the intimate connection between acting and business leadership claimed by the authors.