Command Presence

Guided Discovery.

Photo by Michael Hamments on Unsplash

Suggested Reading

• ADP 6-22, Army Leadership and the Profession

  • Pages 3-1 through 4-5 based on printed document (PDF pages 53-61)

  • Discussing the US Army’s second and third critical attributes: presence and intellect

• Link to ADP 6-22 on the US Army Publishing Directorate

• This week’s Study: Own the Room

• All excerpts below are from ADP 6-22 unless otherwise noted

Introduction

3-1. Demonstrating presence is more than just showing up and being seen, although both are important. The actions, words, and the manner in which leaders carry themselves should convey confidence, competence, and a positive example for others to emulate. Presence represents who leaders are and what they stand for.
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Part of projecting a positive leadership presence is being comfortable in one’s own skin. While leaders should understand that their subordinates are always observing how leaders carry themselves, they should also understand that subordinates can quickly tell the difference between leaders who are trying to portray themselves as something they are not.
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Remembering that most subordinates want their leaders to be successful is important. When they sense that their leaders are genuine, honest, and willing to learn by putting themselves into positions where they might risk a little embarrassment learning a new skill, their level of respect for a leader increases. Leaders able to do what they ask others to do, who can ‘walk the talk,’ generate a positive reputation that contributes to their effective presence around Soldiers.

How do you act when everyone is looking?
Is there a correct balance between authentic presence and creating a persona?
How would your team describe your presence?

This Week’s Reading, Abridged

3-2. Through their presence, leaders show what they stand for and how they expect others to carry themselves. Leaders who routinely share in hardships and dangers have firsthand knowledge of what they are asking subordinates to do, and show their subordinates that they are not above putting themselves at the same level of risk or discomfort. It assures Soldiers that what they are doing is important. A leader’s effectiveness is dramatically enhanced by understanding and developing the following areas:

• Military and professional bearing: projecting a commanding presence, a professional image of authority, calmness under pressure, and control over emotions.

• Fitness: looking like a fit, professional Soldier, having the strength, and endurance to lead others from the front, and being physically able to do what subordinates are expected to do.

• Confidence: projecting self-confidence and certainty in the unit’s ability to accomplish the mission, able to retain composure and demonstrate calm through steady control over emotion.

• Resilience: demonstrating the psychological and physical capacity to overcome failures, setbacks, and hardship.