The media often portrays effective leaders as powerful speakers that are able to use their words to inspire followers.  Coaches give inspirational speeches to their team when they are losing at halftime so that they can come back and triumph.  Politicians use moving words to help their countries overcome a crisis. You get the picture.

Since these images are etched in our minds it isn’t surprising that aspiring leaders feel the need to match that expectation.  Many today feel that the key to being an effective leader is being able to deliver an effective, powerful and inspirational speech to your team.  While effective presentation skills are very important, you can actually influence your team as their leader without uttering a single word.  Here’s how:

The Present of Your Presence

Your team is greatly influenced by your leadership just through your presence: how you show up to them each day.  Showing up authentically will reassure them that you are who you appear to be and that you take your team and the work you do seriously.  But if you are perpetually distracted or disinterested, or come across as pompous or arrogant, will they still take you seriously as a leader?  Your mere presence and visibility each day is a powerful influencer.

Focus on Your Physical Reflection

Another important element of leadership without using words is based on what you see when you look in the mirror. Based on your appearance and demeanor, would you want to follow you?

When you stand in front of a mirror, you are getting a front row seat of the show that your team is going to be viewing for the entire day.

Your appearance, facial expressions and body language are often subtle but powerful influencers because (1) they are contagious: mirror neurons in the minds of your team pick up on subtle non-verbal cues and tend to emulate them and (2) you set the standard for team members in their appearance and professionalism.

Mastering the Art of Consistency

There are always going to be those leaders that are viewed as roller coasters to their teams.  When the tracks of their business are heading up, they are up but when the tracks of their business are heading down, they are down as well.

An effective leader cannot allow changing circumstances and events to determine their perspective, attitude and overall approach to their job.  They need to be consistently positive and realistically upbeat to influence their teams to do the same.  Regardless of the circumstances, you need to become known as the epitome of consistency so team members know your performance expectations have not changed with the tide.

Put it All Together

True leadership is not found only in the words of an inspirational speech or personal conversation.  You have to be effective as a leader even before you open your mouth.  How is that possible?  Your presence, physical reflection and overall consistency each day will speak volumes about your level of effectiveness as an influential leader without even saying a single word.