Why intention, attention, and professionalism quietly shape credibility over time

Presence isn’t about being the most polished voice in the room. It’s about being fully there—grounded, intentional, and aware of the impact you’re creating in every interaction.

In a world that rewards speed and constant output, presence has become a quiet advantage. People can sense the difference between someone who’s responding out of habit and someone who’s showing up with purpose. The words may be similar. The experience is not.

What Presence Really Means

Presence in communication lives at the intersection of intention and attention.

• Intention is clarity around why you’re communicating. What matters in this moment? What needs to be understood, decided, or felt?
• Attention is where your focus lives while the exchange is happening. Are you listening to reply—or listening to understand? Are you present, or simply waiting for your turn?

When intention and attention align, communication becomes ...

And why it’s more than you think 

It’s easy to spot a missed deadline or a dropped ball. What’s harder to see—and often more damaging—is the ripple effect of poor communication across your team or organization.

There is a tendency to refer to “communication issues” as soft problems. Interpersonal. Inevitable. Something to bring up in a 360 review or a quarterly training. And here’s the truth: poor communication isn’t simply a culture issue—it’s a business risk. One that quietly erodes productivity, trust, and profitability every single day it goes unaddressed.

Let’s uncover what it really costs.

1- Lost Time You’ll Never Get Back

Misaligned priorities. Endless email threads. Meetings that feel like déjà vu. When teams aren’t clear on expectations, timelines, or ownership, even high performers can spin their wheels.

And it’s not only frustrating—it’s expensive.

According to a McKinsey study, employees spend an average of 28% of their workweek on email and another 20% on internal ...