Your professional brand is often an elusive thing — it can be hard to put your finger on what qualities you bring to the equation when you succeed in meaningfully connecting with and helping others. In today’s post, Dean introduces a tool he calls the Hero Compass that can help you begin the process of identifying those Hero qualities in you.
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I just stepped out of a coaching session with a brand-new insight—an evolution of something I’ve explored for years in our Leadership Presentation Coaching and executive presence coaching. I’ve long believed that personal magnetism comes from your internal opposites. Just as the Earth has a North and South Pole, each of us carries opposing qualities that create a naturally confident presence.
For me, I’m both dead serious and deeply playful. I can be the most serious person in the room while also having the most fun. Those qualities shouldn’t work together, yet they do. Strength mixed with sensitivity, leadership paired with followership—our internal contrasts shape the presence we bring to others and the energy we offer when we show up to serve.
Today, the concept expanded. Until now, I’d only seen the North–South axis of magnetism. But during this session, an East–West dimension appeared—supporting opposites that enhance the primary ones. Suddenly, magnetism wasn’t a line. It was a compass.
My North is dead serious. My South is playful. But then I discovered my East and West: I’m deeply focused on business and organizational challenges, yet I’m equally committed to personal transformation. I help you with your work, and I help you with you. These added dimensions amplify my presence and clarify my identity as someone who supports leaders through senior leadership presentation coaching, executive presentation coaching, and even screen presence coaching for those leading in virtual and hybrid environments.
The client we were working with had her own compass. Her North and South were analytical and creative—opposites that generated immediate presence. Her East and West were problem solving and emotional intelligence. When combined, her “hero” identity became clear: she solves problems while honoring the emotional drivers behind them.
Once she saw her compass, she began evaluating opportunities differently. She could ask, “Does this role let me use my full compass?” or “How does my compass differentiate me from others?” These questions expanded her clarity, her leadership confidence training, and even the way she approached interview skills training for professionals and other high-stakes conversations.
Your North and South—your primary internal opposites—create your core magnetism. Your East and West enhance and elevate that. Together, they reveal your personal brand, your heroic identity, and the way you naturally help others, whether you’re presenting, interviewing, or leading.
Take time to identify your North and South. Then look for the East and West that accentuate them. When you discover your compass, you gain clarity about which opportunities fit you, how you communicate, and how you uniquely stand out. It’s powerful work we integrate into Presence Coaching, business speaking, and the broader journey of strengthening your leadership presence.
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