Presence: The One Thing You Can’t Fake

You’ve felt it before—those rare moments when someone is fully with you. No distractions, no agenda, no performance… just presence. And you’ve felt the opposite too—the “I’m here, but I’m not really here” conversations that leave you feeling unseen. In this episode, David and William unpack what presence really is—and why it’s one of the most powerful and misunderstood aspects of leadership and coaching. If you’ve ever been told to “work on your executive presence” but had no idea what that actually meant… this conversation finally puts language to the invisible.Key Topics:•    Presence is the alignment of attention, intention, and emotion. •    You can’t measure your own presence—others feel it instantly. •    Lack of presence impacts promotions, reputation, and influence. •    Presence is not a tactic—it’s a “beingness,” not a checklist skill. •    Executive presence ≠ dominance; it’s grounded, authentic alignment. •    Coaching presence is different: •    Focused fully on the other person•    Neutral emotion•    Clear intention to support their growth•    The fastest way to lose presence? Focusing on yourself. •    Growth tip: You don’t “add” presence—you remove what gets in the way