Why Today’s Executives Lead With Presence, Not Just Strategy

Same office. Same team. But something felt different.

A few months ago, I met with a senior leader who had just wrapped up a town hall meeting with their team. As we debriefed, I asked, “What stood out to you?”

She paused. “I don’t know,” she said. “I was there, but I wasn’t really there. I think they could tell.”

That moment stuck with me. She wasn’t talking about being physically absent—she showed up. But emotionally? Mentally? Relationally? She knew she had missed the mark.

We’re living in a time when CEOs are pulled in a thousand directions—between shareholder expectations, global disruptions, digital transformation and economic uncertainty. But in the rush to respond, many are forgetting something fundamental: Leadership is personal.

We don’t build foundations with a strategy deck. We build them through presence. Through moments. Through meaningful connections.

Absence Speaks Volumes

Following a leadership retreat, I spoke with a nurse manager in the CICU who shared that her CEO used to make weekly rounds on the units and ask her about their kids, inquire about birthdays, sit down for five minutes and just show support when he knew they were having a tough shift. But then it stopped. She wasn’t even sure if he cared anymore.

No budget cuts. No policy changes. Just missing presence. With its absence comes a subtle erosion of trust.

This is the stuff we don’t always put in leadership KPIs—yet it’s the fuel behind loyalty, community and belonging. It is the force behind extraordinary effort. It is what gets people to go the extra mile or walk out the door.

Most of us don’t mean to disconnect. We are ridiculously busy. Meetings, crises, decisions. Can busyness distract us from being human?

The Higher You Rise, The More Intentional You Must Be

Moments that seem small to you—missing a birthday lunch, skipping a promised visit, not following up after a difficult conversation—can feel enormous to others. And the words that mean little to you can still resonate months after you leave.

Once, my previous CEO called my office to check on me after some unfortunate events in New York. He wanted to make sure I was not personally impacted by the news. He barely knew me, and yet he took the time to call me and to let me know that he cares. This was 24 years ago. I still remember his words.

That’s the irony of leadership: People remember how you make them feel far more than they remember what you said in a boardroom.

I coach an executive who is deeply analytical—brilliant, efficient, always two steps ahead. But in her team’s eyes, she is cold and disconnected. She barely looks at them when she enters her office. But she’s not trying to be distant. She told me that she’s just trying to manage everything on her plate.

One Simple Shift: Be Where Your Feet Are

A great solution for a problem like this is blocking out “present time” to walk the halls. During present time, it’s important to listen more and advise less. Ask how people are going and actually wait for an answer.

With this simple strategy, I’ve seen engagement scores grow. You don’t have to change who you are, just choose to practice mindful leading. At our firm, we call it the “leadership exchange rate.” For every minute of genuine connection a leader gives, the return on trust, engagement and loyalty can be exponential.

Return Depends On One Thing: Consistency

You can’t outsource it. You can’t fake it. You can’t automate it. You cannot cram it right before a layoff or reorganization. Meaningful connections require relational readiness—the ability to be fully present in high-stakes moments so that your return on investment is granted even when the stakes are high.

I will never forget a leadership retreat I facilitated five years ago. The COO was scheduled to speak on the last day. The night before, he pulled me aside and told me he didn’t agree with me about the “personal story” stuff. He was the type who would rather just share the company’s third-quarter road map.

But something shifted the next morning. He stood up, looked around the room, and said, “Before I talk about the numbers, I want to talk about my daughter.” He shared how she had just recovered from a major surgery—and how his team had quietly covered for him so he could be there with her. “I never said thank you,” he said, voice cracking. “You gave me time I’ll never get back.”

You could hear a pin drop. Eyes welled. Hearts opened. And yes—the road map still got shared. But more importantly, so did the heart behind it.

The Essence Of Leadership

In an era obsessed with AI, dashboards and data, human connection continues to be your ally, your most powerful driver of loyalty.

Strategy moves the mind. Connection moves the heart. And when you engage both, magic will follow.

So the next time you are tempted to write that long email instead of walking down the hall, remember: Your presence is the message. And sometimes, the most powerful thing a leader can say is simply: “I see you. I’m here.”

This article was published on Forbes.com.