Great Leaders Inspire: The Power of Presence in Leadership

A note to young leaders.

One of the hallmarks of a great leader is that when they enter the room, the team immediately believes that success is attainable, no matter the odds.

Napoleon Bonaparte was one such leader.

Here’s what Duke Wellington said about his arch nemesis: “I used to say of Napoleon that his presence on the field made the difference of forty-thousand men.”

So, before you promote someone to a position of leadership, ask: when this person enters the room, what happens to the morale and confidence of the team?

If the answer to this question is anything other than resoundingly positive, then – no matter how proficient they are at their job – this is not the leader you’re looking for.