52: How to lead with presence: 5 habits every technology leader needs

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Being busy isn’t your problem—being absent is.



In this special episode, Adam dives into the hidden cost of not showing up—at work, at home, and especially as a leader. If you’ve ever coasted through a Zoom call, half-listened to a teammate, or checked your phone while spending time with your kids, this one will hit hard.

Adam pulls back the curtain on what it really means to lead with presence—not perfection—and how that simple act can radically transform trust, engagement, and team performance. You’ll hear personal stories, hard-won lessons, and five tactical steps to build a leadership style grounded in consistency and connection. Whether you're burned out or just trying to level up, this episode delivers the wake-up call (and the playbook) you didn’t know you needed.

You’ll Learn:

• How showing up with full presence activates trust, connection, and influence
• Why “being there” isn’t the same as actually being present
• What distracted leadership signals to your team—and how it erodes performance
• How to create friction against distractions and train consistent focus
• Why celebration is a strategic act—not a soft one
• How to structure 1:1s that deepen trust and engagement
• What a simple “thank you” does to long-term team motivation
• Why consistency beats charisma in high-stakes leadership
• How to audit your calendar for high-impact presence opportunities
• What missed moments teach us about recommitment and integrity

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction

[02:20] Why presence matters more than perfection

[03:08] The real meaning of “showing up”

[03:47] Story: daughter calls out her dad for not watching

[04:29] Story: child notices when phone is put away

[05:07] Why absence creates disconnection—even in the same room

[05:35] What presence looks like in a professional setting

[06:10] How presence builds or destroys trust

[06:45] Story: transforming a demoralized team through consistency

[07:56] The role of showing up in changing team culture

[08:25] Why presence includes celebrating wins

[08:58] Story: the 15-minute celebration that stuck

[09:50] Why being noticed beats being rewarded

[10:36] What makes consistency so difficult

[11:05] The support systems that enable presence

[12:02] Step 1: know where presence matters most

[12:22] Step 2: create friction for distraction

[12:45] Step 3: celebrate outcomes deliberately

[13:04] Step 4: practice active presence in 1:1s

[13:30] Step 5: acknowledge your misses and recommit

Resources Mentioned:

The CTO Playbook Platform | Website

Find more from Adam on LinkedIn and YouTube, and check out Adam's CTO coaching company Synova Tech.