Governance
Strategic Presence In Leadership
By Prof. Kellen Kiambati
In leadership, there are several similarities between military leadership and corporate leadership as much as they operate in different grounds but are expected to produce same game of impact. What that translates to is that leadership wears many uniforms, sometimes camouflage and other times a regular suit but there are lessons to learn.
Military leadership is about literally leading from the front, taking decisive action in moments of chaos, absolute discipline and chain of command and unity in mission with zero tolerance for excuses. Corporate leadership is all about influencing without always having authority, adapting strategy through ambiguity and market shifts, fostering innovation, collaboration, and creativity and building teams with trust, empathy, and flexibility.
Clearly both require integrity, clarity of vision, the courage to make tough calls, responsibility for people and not just results. Whether in boots or in brogues, a true leader does not command respect rather they earn it therefore then it is important to carry the discipline of the military into leadership spaces and the empathy of modern leadership into every decision, always remember great leadership is not about the environment, but the mindset.
That said, strategic presence is what gives leaders the ability to hold attention, even in silence. It is the subtle but undeniable force that makes people stop, listen, and follow. More often than not we hear leaders being told that they cannot lead with a soft voice. Obviously’ it is a reflection of a deep-rooted misconception in leadership culture that argues for one to lead effectively they must dominate the room, speak the loudest, or demand attention with force and look like the most intelligence person in the room.
Borrowing from my own lived experience and experiences of people who have led me I can confidently say that leading diverse teams is strategy and not volume in terms of presence. Today’ s leadership architecture is punctuated by complex, fast-paced, and deeply human and multi generations approaches which cannot be ignored. It is not about leaders changing their voice or personality, but about them harnessing who they are in order to show up with clarity, conviction, and authenticity.
Several theories of leadership have somehow made charisma, assertiveness, and outward confidence to define effective leadership but as good as they are, they aren’ t universal to effective leadership because leadership is largely about influence. It is not about commanding the room with bravado, but about engaging others in ways that are thoughtful, intentional, and impactful. A soft voice can inspire just as powerfully sometimes even more when it carries a clear message, is grounded in purpose, and has the ability to connect authentically.
Strategic presence is the intentional use of behavior, energy, language, and emotional intelligence to convey leadership, inspire confidence, and align people with a vision. It’ s not about being someone else, it is about becoming more of who you are, with strategic clarity. This is because if a person is not naturally loud, this does not make them a poor leader. Leaders must exercise the science and art of remaining calm under pressure, which sends a powerful signal of stability and control, choosing words wisely, listening actively, and pausing with purpose to amplify authority, being real and consistent so as to earn credibility faster rather than forced confidence and being careful to understand the physical and emotional space they occupy and adapting quickly.
That said, presence is not noise, it is also not accidental, it must be intentionally cultivated through speaking with purpose and owning it, radiating the right emotional tone, showing up in the moments that matter so that the visibility reinforce reliability, seeking feedback periodically and modeling composure and steadiness in high stake moments. Such presence consistently shapes perception, strengthens authority, and inspires confidence in others.
In conclusion, presence is practice. From how you walk into a room to how you end a conversation every moment is an opportunity to lead intentionally. Leader’ s presence is their message and hence should be cultivated with care and from the centre so as to move people forward. Leaders should always remember, leadership is not a contest of noise, but a commitment to clarity, credibility, and consistency. And strategic presence is the engine behind it all.
Prof. Kellen Kiambati holds a BA- HRM from Kenyatta University, MBA from the Kenya Methodist University and a PhD in Business Administration with a focus in Strategic Management from JKUAT. She is a member of the Institute of Human Resource Management of Kenya. She can be reached via: Kellenkiambati @ gmail. com.
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