Potential vs. Presence: The Real Leadership Divide
Some men have potential. Fewer have presence. And the difference between the two is the difference between being noticed and being followed.
I first saw that difference come alive in the Marine Corps.
Back then, I was a Lance Corporal with more attitude than wisdom. One day I got into trouble with one of my NCOs, and I figured I was about to get chewed out in front of everyone. That’s how it usually went.
But my Company Gunnery Sergeant, Gunny Miller, handled it differently.
He called me out in front of the whole platoon, but instead of tearing me down, he locked eyes with me and said:
“I expect more from you. You’re older than most of the men here. I know you can do better. And I expect you to.”
That moment hit hard.
He corrected me without humiliating me. He challenged me without crushing me. And he made it clear that he saw something in me I wasn’t living up to.
That’s presence.
What Is Leadership Presence?
Leadership presence is what allows a leader to call out potential in others. It’s the steady authority that makes people pay attention, lean in, and want to rise higher.
Potential by itself doesn’t do that.
Potential is raw talent, the spark of what could be.
Presence is what happens when that raw material is shaped through discipline, humility, and responsibility.
Every man has potential. Not every man develops presence.
True leadership happens when presence turns potential into impact.
A Marine Corps Lesson on Leadership That Stuck
Looking back, that day with Gunny Miller shifted me.
I went from being a Marine with an attitude problem to a Marine who wanted to do the same for others — to call men up instead of pushing them down.
That’s what true leadership does.
Presence doesn’t just command attention; it inspires growth. It builds trust, sets a standard, and challenges others to step into who they were made to be.
How to Move from Potential to Presence as a Leader
Here’s the honest question:
Where are you still coasting on potential?
And where do you need to step up with presence — the kind of steady, confident leadership that rallies people behind a cause and calls out the best in them?
If you want to stand out as a leader, presence isn’t optional. It’s essential.
Potential might get you noticed. Presence makes you worth following.
Final Takeaway: Leadership That Lasts
The world doesn’t need more men with good intentions. It needs leaders with presence—men who lead with clarity, conviction, and humility.
Your potential is the starting point.
Your presence is what shapes legacies.
Take Your Leadership to the Next Level
If you’re ready to grow from potential to presence and become a leader others trust and follow, the Next Level Leader program was built for you.
