Presence Isn’t Private

Your thoughts and feelings aren’t as private as you think. Your inner state is broadcasting and other people pick up on it: your team, clients, prospects and partners. That’s why who you’re being matters even more than what you’re doing.

I remember years ago organizing what I thought would be a great team-building event at a culinary institute. I was hoping the food, fun, and glamorous setting would bring us closer together.

But it fell flat. People seemed awkward and uncomfortable. No one relaxed. I remember looking around. thinking, “Why aren’t they enjoying this more?” I left feeling disappointed.

It took me years to understand the real reason it didn’t work. The problem wasn’t the event and it wasn’t the people. It was the energy I carried into the space as the founder.

On the surface, I was smiling and upbeat. But underneath, I was tense. I was thinking about the proposal I had to finish afterward, calculating the cost of all the nonbillable hours, and wondering if anyone would even appreciate it. That’s what my team felt. Not the smiles, but the stress.

That’s what presence teaches us: you can’t hide your state. No matter how polished your words, people feel what’s underneath.

Founder Energy Is Magnified

As a founder, your presence sets the tone everywhere. In meetings, presentations, launches, and pitches. In daily huddles and zoom check-ins. This is the asymmetry of leadership. Staff and clients depend on you, so your state is amplified by them.

If you’re worried, your team assumes there’s a reason to worry. If you’re unclear, clients feel uncertain and don’t move forward. That’s why your presence matters so much. 

We’re always transmitting. We’re just not always aware that we are.

Presence and Intuition

Presence begins with the awareness of your thoughts and feelings as they arise. And from that awareness, something powerful happens: the chatter loses its grip. You have access to what’s happening right now. 

A single pause, a conscious breath, or noticing your body brings you back into the moment. The nervous system steadies. The loop of commentary softens and your presence becomes the gateway to intuition. 

Once the mental chatter is quiet, you can actually notice what’s happening: the tone of someone’s voice, the rhythm of their breathing, the subtle energy that isn’t spoken. 

Think about interviewing someone for a key role. On paper, they look perfect and their answers sound polished. But something in their energy feels off. If you’re present, you catch it. If you’re distracted, you miss it. And later, you pay for it.

Intuition speaks in whispers, and you’ll only hear it when you’re…present.

Practice

So how do you practice presence? It’s simpler than you think. Before any meeting or decision, pause. Take three deep breaths. Then ask yourself two questions:

1. What’s my energy right now?

2. Is this how I want to feel?

If it’s not, then it’s time to refocus on the outcome you want. This will always have a positive effect on your inner state. It will reconnect you to your true Self and reset your energy.

Your presence is consciousness in action. For founders, it’s more than just an advantage in business. It’s the most powerful way to live and lead.