Practical ways to communicate clearly, build trust, and collaborate more effectively at work.
Professional presence is often associated with confidence, leadership, or expertise. But it is not about having the biggest personality in the room, appearing perfectly polished or holding a specific title. It is built through the way people experience you over time: how you listen, how clearly you communicate, whether you follow through, and how you work with others.
In the Level Up Studio webinar “Professional Presence: Building Trust through Communication and Collaboration,” Heidi Landmeier of Southern New Hampshire University shares practical ways to strengthen the everyday behaviors that shape your reputation at work.
Start with the foundation: trust
Trust influences whether people share ideas with you, ask for your help, include you in opportunities, and rely on you when work needs to get done. It does not usually come from one impressive moment. It grows through a pattern of honesty, clarity, listening, consistency, and follow-through.
A useful first step is to consider how you want others to experience you. Reliable? Collaborative? Knowledgeable? Helpful? Choose one quality that already feels like a strength and one you want to build.
That turns a broad idea like “professional presence” into something you can practice.
Replace assumptions with clarity
Many communication challenges begin with vague language or untested assumptions, not bad intentions.
A request to complete something “as soon as possible” may mean today to one person and later in the week to another. Slow down long enough to clarify the timeline, priority, responsibilities, and definition of success.
Try questions such as: “What timeline should I plan for?” “Would you like me to make this the priority?” or “What would a successful outcome look like?” A brief follow-up question can prevent rework and protect trust.
Listen to understand, not simply to respond
Listening is more than waiting for your turn to speak. The webinar describes three levels: listening through your own perspective, listening for facts and details, and listening to understand what matters most to the other person. That third level can reveal concerns, priorities, and context that might otherwise remain hidden.
Before offering a solution, reflect back what you heard and ask a curious question. You do not have to agree with every perspective to make a genuine effort to understand it.
Use small habits that make you easier to trust
- Ask curious questions instead of filling gaps with assumptions.
- Clarify expectations, including timing, responsibilities, and desired outcomes.
- Follow through on commitments and communicate early if something changes.
- Address misunderstandings before they become larger issues.
- Offer specific appreciation that shows you noticed another person's contribution.
Make collaboration easier
People bring different priorities, communication preferences, and levels of information to a project. Strong collaborators focus on the shared goal, invite different perspectives, ask before assuming and share credit. When a colleague has not responded, replace an interpretation like “they do not care” with a constructive question: “Is anything getting in the way, and what can we do to move this forward together?”
Choose one behavior to practice this week
Professional presence is not a fixed trait. It becomes visible through many small moments. Choose one action to practice this week: ask one more clarifying question, close a listening gap, follow through on a commitment or send a specific note of appreciation. Consistent action is what turns an intention into a reputation.
Ready to build the skills that make your professional presence unmistakable? Read and share these highlights, then watch the on-demand webinar for more practical examples. Learn more about your education benefits through EdAssist by visiting your company’s benefits portal.
Watch the webinar: Professional Presence: Building Trust Through Communication and Collaboration
