I spent years chasing Performance … then I discovered something faster: Presence.
Five months ago, I started paying attention to something uncomfortable. My drive for Performance had served me well for decades. It built results. It built a career. But it was also making me miss things.
The Shift I Experienced
Here’s what I noticed. When I’m locked into Performance mode, I jump straight to action.
Maybe you can relate?
Someone shares a problem, and I’m already three steps ahead with a solution. Efficient? Yes. Effective? Not always.
When I’m Present instead, everything changes. I catch the small crack in someone’s voice. I notice the pause before they answer. I ask one more question instead of offering one more fix.
The Spotter (Presence) & Driver (Performance)
Think about a spotter perched above the track. Their job isn’t to drive the car faster. It’s to see what the driver can’t see from inside the cockpit. Traffic patterns. Debris. A car closing fast from behind.
Performance is the driver, foot on the gas, focused on lap time. Presence is the spotter, reading the whole track in real time. Champions need both. But most leaders only train one.
Today’s Action Step 1
Today, in your next conversation, count how many seconds pass before you respond. If it’s under two, you’re likely performing, not present.
Today’s Action Step 2
This week, pick one recurring 1:1. Ask one more question than you normally would before offering a solution.
Today’s Action Step 3
Pull your team together and ask: “When do you feel most heard by me?” Their answer will tell you where your Presence gap lives.
Where in your life is Performance running the show when Presence is what’s actually needed?
Be E.P.I.C., friends!!