Your energy shapes your presence and influence
There’s a story often told about Jacinda Ardern that says more about influence than any framework ever could.
During her time as Prime Minister, Ardern was known for something that’s difficult to quantify but impossible to ignore. In moments of crisis, particularly after the Christchurch attacks, people didn’t just listen to her words. They also felt her presence.
This presence did more the people, than anything else. She was calm and grounded. More, she was deeply human, showing emotion and empathy, while still being strong. She didn’t have to shout and rail or be aggressive to show that strength. She also didn’t have to be cold to remain authoritative. Because of who she was as a person, and how she presented that to the world, she was able to walk those lines.
And globally, people responded.
‘Her demonstration that during a crisis it is possible to lead without telegraphing aggression or playing on anxieties was a beacon in a world where the kinds of principles Ardern champions seem to be on the wane. She made a plausible case that kindness was a strength, compassion was actionable, and inclusion was possible.’ – TIME, February 2020
That is leadership energy. It builds leadership presence. And that creates leadership influence.
The invisible layer of influence
Most people focus on what they want to say. They think about the words they’ll use, the message they’ll share. They even consider how they’ll structure that message, and the strategy that underpins it.
But this is only the top layer. There’s another layer operating underneath it all… and that’s your energy and your essence.
What is energy and essence?
Energy and essence are two different things that work together to impact your presence. Your leadership energy – whether you’re a consultant, lead a small team or are an executive in a corporate environment – is how you show up in the moment. And your essence is who you are underneath it.
Together, they shape how people experience you. Before you even utter your first sentence, people are already forming a view of you based on these two things. They’re asking, can I trust them? Do I believe them? Do I want to follow them?
This isn’t a conscious action – it’s intuitive. And because it’s intuitive, it’s powerful.
Research shows that people don't tend to question their first impressions of others. Instead, they lock them in almost instantly – Princeton psychologists Willis and Todorov found that people form judgements about trustworthiness, competence, and likeability after just 100 milliseconds of exposure to a face, and that additional time doesn't change those judgements. It simply increases confidence in them.
From that point, confirmation bias takes over: people actively seek and favour information that supports their initial impression while discounting evidence that contradicts it.
Why how you show up matters more than ever
In a world of AI, content, and constant communication, words are everywhere… they’re easy to create and spread to others. So it’s more important than ever to differentiate yourself, not just on what you say, but on how you make people feel when you say it.
You don’t need a metaphor to understand this, because we’ve all experienced it. You’ve seen someone walk into a meeting and the energy immediately shifts. If they’re rushed, then suddenly everything speeds up. If they’re anxious, then everyone else in the room becomes immediately less certain. But if they’re calm and grounded, then the conversation seems to settle.
This is called ‘emotional contagion’, where people unconsciously mirror the emotional states of those around them, particularly their leaders. Your energy might set the tone. But those around your respond accordingly.
At a deeper level, your energy and essence shape three critical outcomes:
Trust
People trust what feels congruent. If your words and energy don’t match, trust drops instantly.
Credibility
Calm, grounded energy signals authority. But scattered or rushed energy undermines it.
Connection
People are more open to influence when they feel understood and safe. Your essence determines whether that connection is possible.
The benefits when energy and essence is aligned
When your energy and essence are working for you, you’ll notice:
You don’t need to over-explain. People ‘get it’ much more quickly.
Your presence holds attention, even in high-pressure environments.
You build trust faster, with less effort.
Difficult conversations feel more manageable.
You are remembered, not just for what you said, but how you made people feel.
The consequences when it’s not
When your essence and energy are not aligned, this is you can lose influence without even realising it.
You say the right things, but they don’t land
You feel like you’re not being heard or taken seriously
You overcompensate by adding more detail or talking more
You leave important conversations feeling frustrated or flat
Your confidence takes a hit, even though your capability hasn’t changed
3 steps to strengthen your energy and essence
If you want to elevate your leadership energy and essence to build real presence, and therefore influence, start with these three steps.
1.Manage your state before the moment
Influence doesn’t start in the meeting. It starts long before you walk in. Before you enter any room, virtual or in-person, ask yourself:
What energy am I bringing into this room?
Is it aligned with the outcome I want?
If you’re finding that your energy isn’t where you want it to be, there is a simple practice that can help. Slow your breath down, reset your posture and take 60 seconds to centre yourself.
It’s a small exercise, but powerful.
2.Build awareness of your default patterns
Under pressure, you’ll find that you slip into default patterns with your energy. You might speed up, overtalk or even withdraw. These patterns can undermine your presence and your influence, but unless you can see them, you can’t change them.
So start noticing how you show up when it matters most.
3.Anchor into your essence
You get to choose who you want to be and how you show that to the world. Think about how you want to be experienced in this moment. Consider the qualities that define you at your best. Calm? Direct? Warm? Decisive? Choose two to three and anchor into them intentionally.
Building your own influence
Jacinda Ardern didn’t influence the world through perfectly crafted sentences or because she used all the right words. She influenced through her presence – that is, her energy and essence. And she made a difference because of how she made people feel when she showed up.
This is your opportunity. If you want to elevate your influence, don’t just prepare what you want to say. Prepare your energy and refine your essence. And then you’ll be ready to lead the room before you even speak.
