Presence is a Practice, Not a Pause
with thoughts from Olive Pique, HOST’s resident event expert and mascot
Being present at work has somehow been marketed like a wellness break — slow down, breathe deeply, clear your mind. Lovely in theory. Less realistic when you’re on your fourth meeting, your inbox is on fire, and someone just said, “Quick question.”
The truth? Presence doesn’t happen when work stops. It happens while work is happening — in meetings, conversations, decisions, and all the moments where people are paying attention to whether you actually show up.
In this HOST Blog, we’re breaking down why presence isn’t about slowing down—it’s about how you show up when things are moving, and why practicing presence in real time is one of the most impactful leadership skills today.
When distraction drops, precision takes over
PRESENCE IN MOTION
Presence matters most when things are moving.
Not in theory. Not in the abstract. In the middle of meetings, deadlines, decisions, and conversations that don’t come with a pause button.
Leaders who are actually present—listening without multitasking, responding without rushing, staying engaged instead of half-checking out—set a tone that people feel immediately. No slide deck required.
Presence changes the quality of work. Conversations get clearer. Decisions stick. Fewer things need to be revisited because people feel included in the moment, not looped in after the fact.
Momentum moves work forward.
Presence makes sure it lands.
We explored the foundational importance of presence earlier this year in our blog, The Power of Presence at Work. This conversation picks up where that one left off—looking at what presence actually requires once work is in motion.
WHAT PRESENCE IS (AND ISN’T)
Let’s clear this up.
Presence isn’t about being available to everyone, all the time.
It’s not instant replies.
And it’s definitely not multitasking with confidence.
Presence is about attention—giving the moment you’re in the respect it deserves.
In real workdays, presence looks like:
listening to understand, not just to reply
staying in the conversation long enough to hear what’s actually being said
noticing when urgency is driving the pace instead of intention
Presence also means knowing when not to rush. Not every question needs an immediate answer. Not every decision benefits from speed. Space creates clarity—and clarity builds trust.
When people feel your focus, they feel valued.
It’s that simple.
PRACTICING PRESENCE (WITHOUT ADDING MORE TO YOUR PLATE)
Presence doesn’t require more time.
It requires better use of the time you already have.
A few small shifts go a long way:
Finish one thing before starting the next.
Multitasking looks impressive. Focus builds trust.Create micro-pauses.
Take a breath before responding.
Let a question land.
Silence isn’t awkward—it’s often useful.Signal attention intentionally.
Close the laptop when it matters.
Put the phone face down.
Eye contact still does a lot of heavy lifting.Be selective with urgency.
Not everything is on fire.
Decide what truly needs speed—and let the rest wait.
Presence isn’t about perfection.
It’s about awareness—and choosing to show up fully when it counts.
✍️ A Note from Amy
If I’m being honest, presence has never come naturally to me.
I’ve spent most of my life thriving in motion—living and working in chaos, juggling a hundred things at once. It’s probably no surprise I built a career in food, beverage, and events. Fast pace. High energy. Constant movement. That world rewards urgency, not stillness.
But in 2026, I’m practicing something different. Not perfection. Not calm at all costs. Just more presence than I used to allow myself.
At this stage of my life and career, I have the experience—and the perspective—to slow certain moments down without losing momentum. To be fully in conversations instead of halfway in the next task. To notice when I’m rushing and choose a different pace.
That practice is shaping how I lead at HOST—because when I show up more fully, the work lands better, relationships run deeper, and the chaos doesn’t have to drive the day.
Let’s figure it out, together.
— Amy O’Neil
Owner, HOST Events | ONAR Event Services
🫒 Olive Has Thoughts
Presence is often misunderstood as slowing down. It’s not.
Presence is focus under load.
When systems operate with partial attention—too many inputs, competing priorities, constant context-switching—performance degrades. Not immediately. But predictably.
The same thing happens with humans. Meetings take longer. Decisions wobble. Conversations repeat themselves—not because people aren’t capable, but because attention is fragmented.
Presence improves throughput. Clear focus reduces rework. Intentional pacing lowers error rates.
From a systems perspective, presence isn’t soft. It’s efficient.
— Olive Pique, HOST mascot + operational clarity enthusiast
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