4 Pillars of Presence: Part 4
Pillar of Presence 4:
Present, Receive Others Seeing You
Humbly receive the seeing. Openly receive the attention and the connection to others and that allows you to be present and have presence. This is one of the hardest steps. It is a move deeper and more vulnerable than the allowing of step of one. If we stop at Pillar 3, People: Seeing Others, we can get stuck in Human Resting Face – an intense outward energy. We are seeing others, but without the reciprocal energy of receiving others seeing us, we can create a wall around ourselves that does not allow the power of our presence to move freely. Receiving others softens our gaze, creates a transparency and a real sense of being present.
So HOW do we open ourselves to receive others seeing us?
Receive people seeing you. Embrace the comfort and awkwardness of the situation. This allows those seeing you to feel more comfortable looking at you. This is similar to the first Pillar, Position: Allow Yourself To Be Seen, but it is deeper than just being seen. It is an acceptance of the gaze, an acknowledgment of the other person, and an invitation to be present. Hold the space for people seeing you. This is the tricky one. Presence is created by both seeing and being seen. Arrogance is often felt from those who want to be seen, though they don’t really let you see who they are, and they spend no time seeing you beyond the surface. For this one, we suggest be vulnerable and open – and receive. If we stop on Pillar 3, People: See Others, we are often perceived as harsh and/or having Resting Human Face. We want to move beyond. Exhale and breathe in deeply. This helps us to be open and receive. Be brave and vulnerable and vulnerably brave.
Conclusion
So, presence – Yes, you do know it when you see it and experience it. The truly great leaders and connectors in our world have allowed themselves to be seen while seeing others. There is neither pretending nor hiding the fullness of who they are. Their presence is seen, felt and experienced by all of us when they enter and leave the room. You can be too!
Be present. Choose to be seen and to see.
Why? Well, that’s for next blog.
You may also like
Leaders: Don’t call people out. Call them in.
Employ Your Hard Skills by Activating Your Soft Skills
