Leadership Beyond Zoom Calls: Your Physical Presence Matters!

Auric Interactions. Quantum Energy, Location Vibe, Distance Bias & You

For nearly seven years, I shuttled between Seattle, USA, and Mumbai, India. This was driven by my love for being close to family in India and my dedication to serving my clients in the USA. I recently relocated to Dallas to be closer to my North American clients, and this move has profoundly impacted how I operate, understand, and serve my clients.

When I was in India, my mindset would shift to align with my Indian clients’ pain points and daily struggles. This influenced everything—from my program designs to my communication and marketing strategies. Conversely, each time I boarded a flight back to the USA, my thinking naturally shifted to focus on my American clients, their challenges, and their needs. This transformation happened even without interacting with anyone on the plane. Just being in close proximity to my clients had a powerful effect on my mindset and ideas.

(Not sure if you want to read the whole article? I have a 16 min podcast on the topic- click here)

Why Physical Proximity Matters

This experience led me to reflect on why physical proximity had such a significant impact, despite having access to extensive online research and tools. Here’s what I discovered:

Seeing, Sensing, and Thinking: Physical proximity allows you to see, sense, and think more like the people you want to serve. Observing their expressions, listening to their conversations, and sensing their energy helps you connect with their stories and experiences on a deeper level.

Energetic Connections: Each person carries an aura—an energy field that holds their thoughts, experiences, and emotions. When you’re physically close to someone, your energy fields intersect, allowing non-verbal communication to occur. This exchange of energy helps you understand their pain points, aspirations, and needs better.

Collective Energy of a Place: Locations themselves hold the collective energy of the people who live there. This is why certain places have a distinct vibe or atmosphere, influenced by the collective experiences of their inhabitants. By immersing yourself in a location, you absorb this energy, which helps you connect with and understand the people better.

Overcoming Distance Bias

Despite the advantages of digital communication tools like Zoom, there’s something called distance bias that affects our interactions. Even if meetings are held online, being in the same country or time zone as your clients makes them feel calmer and more connected. This bias is a reminder that physical presence still matters.

Distance Bias affects how people connect with each other

What Should Leaders Do?

To harness the power of proximity in your leadership and business, consider the following:

Location Immersions: Spend time in the locations where your clients and teams are based. Visit their offices, meet them in person, and immerse yourself in their environment. This will help you understand their culture, challenges, and needs more deeply.
Physical Presence: Whenever possible, be physically closer to your clients and teams. Schedule regular visits to meet your remote teams, and create opportunities for in-person interactions. Your presence can make a significant difference in how you connect and communicate

Building a Community:

I am building a community for leaders to that would create opportunities for local meetings in addition to online sessions.

If you are a leader looking to find your peer group, your inner circle and get the coaching you need to rise at levels very few aspire too, then consider joining the waitlist of the Transcend Partnership here

A Real-Life Example

Let me share a personal story to illustrate the power of physical presence. I had written a blog about this too which you can read here. During a recent move, I had to ship several items from India to Dallas. There was a discrepancy in the weight calculations, which led to a misunderstanding with the courier company’s franchise owner. Resolving this issue over the phone was challenging, so I decided to visit her in person. This face-to-face interaction allowed us to communicate more effectively, resolve the issue amicably, and even discuss potential business collaborations. The physical presence helped break down barriers and misunderstandings. It helped build a stronger connection and now she is my supply chain partner for my physical products business.

Beyond Zoom

While Zoom and other digital tools are invaluable, they should complement, not replace, physical immersion. As a leader, take the time to be where your clients and teams are. Connect with their energy, understand their challenges, and build authentic relationships. This approach will transform your ability to serve and lead effectively.

If you’re interested in exploring these ideas further, check out the Transcend Partnership. Join our community to connect with like-minded leaders, share ideas, and innovate together. Let’s go beyond Zoom and make meaningful connections that drive success.

I look forward to hearing your insights and experiences. How do you plan to immerse yourself in the world of your clients and teams? Would love to hear your thoughts!

I am run 1:1 Exec Cooaching for Leaders. If you are needing 1:1 Exec Coaching, find program details and the form at this link

Podcast on the Topic

I have also recorded a 16 min audio podcast on the topic which you could hear by clicking the link below.

Categories: : Leadership