PRESENCE: Self-Coaching Strategies to
Ignite Your Authentic Leadership
You’ve earned your seat at the table.
But does your presence influence and impact your results?
Your credentials are impressive. Your results speak for themselves. But somewhere between the title on your door and how you show up in high-stakes moments, something isn’t fully translating. You sense it — in conversations that don’t land as intended, in the influence you know you should have but can’t quite access, and in the gap between how others perceive you and who you know yourself to be.
PRESENCE is the guide that closes the gap. Through the proprietary 3D Authentic Presence (3DAP)® Formula — Define, Discover, Decide — this book offers a structured, research-informed approach to unlocking the leadership presence already inside you. No reinvention required. Just alignment.
It’s time to step into YOUR unique leadership shoes.
Forewords by Valorie Burton, CEO of The CaPP Institute, and Oscar Mendoza, Deputy Executive Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice
PUBLISHED
3 Sept 2024
PUBLISHER
Independently Published
ISBN
9798338224311
FORMATS
Print · Kindle · Audible
Just imagine what would be possible if you …
Walk into any high-stakes conversation knowing exactly who you are as a leader.
Command attention in a boardroom not because of your title, but because of the grounded clarity in your voice and your vision.
Navigate the politics, the pressure, and the personalities without losing yourself in the process.
Turn the invisible patterns that have quietly limited your influence into your greatest competitive advantage.
Sustain your leadership impact over your career — not through sheer willpower, but through authentic alignment.
And what shifts when you can …
Identify and release the energy blocks that drain your presence before you ever walk into the room.
Define your authentic leadership identity with precision — so your influence becomes intentional, not accidental.
Activate that authenticity consistently, whether you’re navigating a difficult conversation, leading through change, or stepping onto a bigger stage.
Elevate your success formula so that greater influence doesn’t come at the cost of who you truly are.
THE METHODOLOGY
The 3D Authentic Presence (3DAP)® Framework
The 3D Practitioner Mastery Approach
PRESENCE is built on the proprietary 3D Authentic Presence® Framework—a structured, research-informed methodology developed over three decades of coaching Fortune 500 executives through their most pivotal leadership moments.
Define
Clarify the external realities, expectations, and dynamics shaping the moment you’re facing.
Discover
Tune into your internal landscape — what you’re thinking, feeling, and sensing beneath the surface.
Decide
Choose aligned, intentional action that reflects who you truly are as a leader.
This isn’t another leadership theory.
It’s a practical system you’ll use in real time—before the meeting,
during the conversation, after the decision—to show up as the leader
you were meant to be.
ADVANCE PRAISE
“The blend of theory and practice makes this book a must-read for anyone looking to enhance their interpersonal skills and professional development.”
— Schuyler Vink · Program Leader, “Understanding the Brain: Using Neuroscience to Deliver Better Business Results,” Wharton Executive Education
“Not everyone will be fortunate enough during their career to have an executive coach. This book is like having Sheila as your personal executive coach.”
— Beverly K. Carmichael (no relation) · Board Director
“BEWARE — this is not a book for the faint of heart. Do not read this work unless you are ready for true self-reflection.”
— Oscar Mendoza · Deputy Executive Director, Texas Department of Criminal Justice
“Carmichael’s 3D Authentic Presence formula is a game changer for how to truly operate from your core.”
— Isatu Bah · Talent Strategy Manager, Organizational Effectiveness & Change, State Farm
VERIFIED AMAZON REVIEWS
“The 3D Authentic Presence tool offers a three-way mirror for feedback and growth. I tried it, and it honestly helped. External polish means little if your leadership is misaligned internally.”
— Dr. Van Hinton · Verified Purchase, Amazon
“Morning intentions, mid-day check-in, nightly reflections. I’ve been doing this since I read the book and I feel more intentional, focused, and satisfied with my days.”
— Jalene Szuba · Verified Purchase, Amazon
“What is this situation asking of you?”
That’s the question Sheila R. Carmichael has been asking leaders for 30+ years — and it’s at the heart of everything she does. As an executive coach, leadership strategist, and author, Sheila doesn’t focus on what’s wrong with your leadership. She focuses on what’s invisible — the blind spots, unexamined patterns, and the untapped presence that’s been there all along, waiting to be activated.
Sheila holds the Master Certified Coach (MCC) credential from the International Coaching Federation. She brings 30+ years of Fortune 500 talent management experience across seven industries, including leadership roles at organizations such as Ernst & Young, VF Corporation, State Farm, and Aramark.
Currently pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration in Organizational Leadership at South College, Sheila continues to deepen the research and science behind presence-based leadership. She is also the founder of Transitions D2D, LLC, where she coaches Directors and VPs navigating high-stakes promotions and leadership transitions.
Sheila, a distinguished member of the Forbes Coaches Council (2020–2022), has contributed to more than 20 published articles on leadership and executive development. Her work is grounded in the belief that every leader already has what they need — the key is learning to see it, own it, and activate it with intention.
She lives her philosophy of presence through Pilates, world travel, jazz, and time with the people who matter most — including her beloved fur baby nephew, Deacon.
Not Ready to Commit? Start Here.
Download a complimentary chapter and experience the 3D Authentic Presence® Framework for yourself.
Discover what becomes possible when you stop performing leadership—and start embodying it.