Authority as a Leadership Principle

Can you be a true leader without possessing a command presence? In my experience, very rarely… I’m not referencing the wannabe leaders oozing bravado, false confidence, arrogance or self-delusion spun as confidence. Nor am I referring to the weak, innocuous or timid who while viewing themselves as leaders are perhaps the farthest thing from a leader. Rather I’m addressing those true leaders who inspire and motivate those around them to achieve things well beyond that which they thought themselves capable of. In today’s post I’ll address the value of developing a command presence…

Command presence is a military term which describes someone who presents themselves as a person of authority…someone who is to be respected and followed. How much will your peers and subordinates sacrifice to follow you? Command presence has nothing to do with leadership style or approach, but it has everything to do with how you are perceived by those around you.

When you walk into a room does anyone notice? When you speak does anyone listen? When you give direction is it respected and followed? Do you inspire confidence and engender credibility with those whom you come into contact with? Are people not only willing to be led by you but proud to be led by you? Command presence is far more than just the attitude you bring to the game…it’s about the combination of charisma, character, integrity, knowledge and experience that separates true leaders from the masses.

I have been in leadership positions for as long as I can remember and I currently advise business and political leaders. During the course of my career I’ve observed all kinds of leaders good and bad…However I’ve never been around a great leader that doesn’t possess strong command presence. Great leaders display an air of calm about them regardless of the situation at hand. Great leaders show co-workers that they will always maintain control even when they don’t have an immediate solution. Great leaders don’t lose focus, they don’t cower and they never waffle.

Today’s business leaders have literally hundreds of interpersonal interactions each and everyday. Any leader who fails to instill confidence amongst subordinates will lose their loyalty, harm their morale and cripple their ability to execute. The impact of command presence is not only limited to your co-workers, but to everyone with whom you come in contact with. Your command presence or lack thereof will also impact the success of your relationships with investors, lenders, partners, suppliers, vendors and other constituencies.

Some leaders come by command presence naturally while others have to work very hard to develop it… Focus on developing the following traits in order to enhance your command presence:

1. Develop Authoritative Body Language: Note that the word authoritative does not mean intimidating, threatening or aggressive. It does however mean in charge, in control, confident, at ease and unflappable. It all starts when you enter the room…What you wear and how you wear it, as well as how you carry yourself make a statement. Slouching, fidgeting, standing with your hands in your pockets, darting-eyes, playing with your pen, tapping your fingers on the table, hand-wringing or any other action that serves no purpose is ill advised. While possessing command presence is not about a beauty contest it is about looking the part.

2. Develop Excellent Verbal Skills: As odd as this may sound this begins with developing excellent listening skills. You must seek to understand before you’ll be understood. When it is time to speak say what you mean and mean what you say…What you say, when you say it and how you say it will both instill confidence and serve to motivate and inspire, or it will take the wind right out of your sails. You don’t have to be an overly verbose person, but you must be measured and articulate. Don’t speak just to hear yourself talk and don’t ramble. If your verbal communication skills are not up to par get help and correct the problem. You cannot lead if you cannot communicate.

3. Make Excellent Decisions: Nothing is more difficult to overcome for a leader than a poor track record. Solid decision layered upon solid decision is the key to creating loyalty. When I was serving in the military I once had a soldier under my command tell me that if I told him to attack a tank with a butter knife he would do it, because he would just assume based upon my track record that I knew something he didn’t (Luckily we never had to test that theory).

Bottom line…If you develop strong command presence leadership while never easy, will in fact become easier.



Authority as a Leadership Principle - To learn more about this author, visit Mike Myatt's Website.

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