The Leadership Skill Nobody Talks About: Presence with Mike Lee

2026-03-18

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What if the biggest thing holding leaders back isn’t strategy or skill, but their ability to be present?In this episode of The Few Leaders Podcast, Boo sits down with Mike Lee, leadership coach, speaker, and former basketball performance specialist, to explore why presence might be the most underrated leadership skill of our time.After years working with elite athletes and high performers, Mike began to notice a pattern. The moments when people perform at their best, connect deeply with others, and lead effectively all happen in the same place. The present moment. Drawing from h...

What if the biggest thing holding leaders back isn’t strategy or skill, but their ability to be present?

In this episode of The Few Leaders Podcast, Boo sits down with Mike Lee, leadership coach, speaker, and former basketball performance specialist, to explore why presence might be the most underrated leadership skill of our time.

After years working with elite athletes and high performers, Mike began to notice a pattern. The moments when people perform at their best, connect deeply with others, and lead effectively all happen in the same place. The present moment. Drawing from his personal journey with anxiety and depression, as well as decades in the world of sport and leadership development, Mike shares how awareness and attention shape the way we lead, perform, and build trust with others.

Together, Boo and Mike unpack why high performers often struggle when they move into leadership, how distraction is quietly eroding leadership effectiveness, and why the strongest leaders focus less on control and more on connection.

Actionable Takeaway:

Why the present moment is where leadership, performance, and culture actually happen
The hidden challenge high performers face when they become leaders
A simple rule that turns complaints into solutions inside teams
How understanding what motivates people can transform the way you lead
Why forgiveness and self-awareness are powerful tools for leaders under pressure

This is a thoughtful and practical conversation about leadership in a distracted world and what it really takes to show up fully for the people you lead.

If you want to lead with greater clarity, connection, and purpose, this episode will give you plenty to reflect on.

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Connect with Christian "Boo" Boucousis:

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