Leadership presence in communications

Appearances matter.

Mary Olson-Menzel is the founder and CEO of MVP Executive Development and co-founder of Spark Insight Coaching. Michelle Powers is a fractional chief of staff.

In the world of communications leadership, appearances matter: your team, peers and executives look to you for signals on how to interpret and respond to challenges. This brings to mind the plight of the duck.

Above the surface, the duck appears calm and serene, gliding effortlessly across the water. Underneath the gentle waves, its webbed feet are paddling furiously to stay above the water and to keep moving forward.

For so many leaders, this analogy feels painfully accurate. They are working overtime to stay ahead of crises, manage competing priorities and respond to ever-growing demands, all while maintaining a calm demeanor for their team and the outside world.

But what if the goal wasn’t to keep frantically paddling under the surface? What if we aimed for something more intentional and sustainable?

The duck in the mirror

One of our clients shared directly that they want to be the swan, not the duck. What she meant was the desire to lead with beauty, presence and visibility. The swan is moving forward, and we witness a sense of elegance and ease in its motion, in contrast to the frenetic underwater movement and constant quacking of the duck.

This metaphor reframes what leadership presence can look like. It’s not about doing less or disengaging — it’s about aligning your internal state with the calm you project outwardly. It’s about leading in a way that feels as good as it looks.

Why ducks matter for comms leaders

Communications leaders are often the first to absorb organizational stress and sometimes the last to get credit for keeping things moving forward. If you spend your days in constant “paddle mode,” you risk burnout, diminished creativity and missed opportunities for both yourself and your team.

Shifting your mindset from stressed duck to graceful swan allows you to:

• Show up with composure even in high-pressure moments
• Elevate your visibility as a strategic partner rather than someone who puts out fires
• Inspire confidence in your team, even when things get tough
• Free up mental bandwidth for creativity, thought leadership and strategic work

Your journey from duck to swan

Moving from constant paddling to graceful gliding is a process — one that takes intention, practice and support. Here are five ways to begin your own transformation:

• Pause: Take three deep breaths and pause before responding to the next crisis. This simple reset signals to your team (and your nervous system) that you are in control.
• Redefine “calm”: Identify what helps you feel grounded (clear priorities, firmer boundaries, supportive peers) and advocate for them.
• Be visible: Schedule time to share insights and celebrate wins with executives and your team.
• Recovery rituals: Whether it’s a morning walk, journaling or meditation, create habits that replenish your energy and reduce the constant “paddling.”
• Reflect and grow: Find and partner with a coach, mentor or supportive peer group to process challenges and stay focused on your bigger goals.

Your goal isn’t to eliminate effort — it’s to bring intention to your effort and make the journey just a little bit smoother. When you align your internal state with the calm you project externally, you create a ripple effect that extends beyond your immediate surroundings. Your team sees you as the leader who inspires, empowers and charts a steady course forward, gliding across the water with ease and grace.

The shift from stressed duck to graceful swan doesn’t just change how you feel — it transforms how you lead. Give yourself the space and the grace for fluidity and transformation even in the most stressful of times.

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