Published:

12/26/2016 09:21pm

Give the Gift of Presence: How to Improve Trust With Your Team and Clients

I was sitting in my doctor’s office. She’d just done an exam
for causes of my vertigo (fortunately benign) and was speedily typing her notes
into the computer.
A little hesitantly, I said, “I forgot, I have another
question”. She immediately stopped typing,
and swiveled her chair to face me, expectant. I asked my question, and
after fully answering it, she turned back to the computer.
Wow, I thought. That was an awesome example of presence. I
felt seen. I felt heard. I felt important to her.
That kind of presence has unfortunately become more rare in
the business world, as we all feel pressed for time. We all have many tugs on
our attention and time.
How often do you see people attending a meeting and instead
of listening to the person speaking, they’re staring at their laps? They’ve
tucked their phones out of sight and are busily texting.
As the speaker, how do you feel when you look out and see
people not paying attention? How do you feel about those who are looking at you
and listening actively?
Our focused attention and engagement, our presence, affects
how people see us.
The times we spend together are an opportunity. Like Ralph
Waldo Emerson, “what you do screams so loudly that I can’t hear what you say”. It’s not enough to tell someone they’re
important to you. You have to show them.
When you choose to pay close attention when you’re with
someone, you’re sending a message that they are important to you, that they are
valued.
You build trust and connection when you offer customers,
team members, vendors, and colleagues the gift of your presence. They know that
they are appreciated.
This kind of sincere connection can’t be faked. It has to be
sincere.
No matter what you’ve done before, you can change right now,
in an instant. In the next interaction you have, you can choose to be fully
present.
As a leader (and you are!), your presence lifts people up,
leaving them feeling a little bit better about themselves.

Ursula Jorch, MSc, MEd, mentors entrepreneurs starting their businesses and seasoned entrepreneurs in transition to create the business of their dreams. Her coaching programs provide knowledge, support, clarity, inspiration, and a community of like-minded entrepreneurs to empower you to reach your goals. Start with a free guide and other valuable info at www.WorkAlchemy.com. This article was originally published at http://www.workalchemy.com/presence-business and has been syndicated with permission.

Your presence makes a big difference. Make the people
connected with your business feel they matter by the extraordinary power of
presence.



Ursula Jorch,
MSc, MEd, mentors entrepreneurs starting their businesses and seasoned
entrepreneurs in transition to create the business of their dreams. Her coaching
programs provide knowledge, support, clarity, inspiration, and a community of
like-minded entrepreneurs to empower you to reach your goals. Start with a free
guide and other valuable info at www.WorkAlchemy.com.
This article was originally published at http://www.workalchemy.com/presence-business
and has been syndicated with permission.