--- title: Leadership, Culture, Impact | Active Choices, Inc. | Anese Cavanaugh | The IEP Method® | Virtual Presence description: Virtual Presence | Featuring articles and resources from the founder of the IEP Method®, Anese Cavanaugh, and the team at Active Choices, Inc. Subscribe today and tap into thought leadership, culture optimization tips, and best practices for organizations dedicated to creating authentically Positive Energy Workplaces and maximizing performance and impact. --- [![Active_choices_horiz_wh (1)](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/hubfs/Active_choices_horiz_wh%20(1).png "Active_choices_horiz_wh (1)")](http://www.activechoices.com/) - [ABOUT ACI](https://activechoices.com/about/) - [OUR COMPANY](https://activechoices.com/about/) - [THOUGHT LEADERSHIP](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/) - [CULTURE & ENERGY INSIGHTS](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/) - [ACI IN THE MEDIA](https://activechoices.com/media/) - [CLIENTS & TESTIMONIALS](https://activechoices.com/about/clients/) - [THE IEP METHOD®](https://activechoices.com/iepmethod/) - [IEP METHODOLOGY](https://activechoices.com/iepmethod/) - [IEP METHOD® TRAINING](https://activechoices.com/work-with-us/#training) - [INTRO TO THE IEP METHOD®](https://activechoices.com/introtoiep/) - [IEP METHOD® FOR TEAMS](https://activechoices.com/team-iep/) - [IEP METHOD® IMMERSION](https://activechoices.com/iep-performance-immersion/) - [SPEAKING](https://activechoices.com/speaking/) - [KEYNOTE SPEAKING](https://activechoices.com/speaking/) - [BOOKS & GUIDES](https://activechoices.com/writing/) - [CONTAGIOUS YOU](https://activechoices.com/contagious-you/) - [CONTAGIOUS CULTURE](https://activechoices.com/contagious-culture/) - [THE LEADER YOU WILL BE](https://activechoices.com/lywb) - [IEP SURVIVAL GUIDE](https://activechoices.com/writing/#survivalguide) - [PRESS KIT](https://activechoices.com/contact/press-kit/) - [WORK WITH US](https://activechoices.com/work-with-us/) - [PRIVATE WORK WITH ANESE](https://activechoices.com/consulting/) - [KEYNOTES & WORKSHOPS](https://activechoices.com/speaking/) - [IEP METHOD® TRAINING](https://activechoices.com/work-with-us/#training) - [MEMBERSHIPS](https://activechoices.com/memberships/) - [PRESENCE & IMPACT COMMUNITY](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/presence-subscription) - [PREMIUM MEMBERSHIP](https://community.activechoices.com/plans/1963254?bundle_token=08fde9318f4afab26ea82a9cb1ad6534&utm_source=manual) - [SHOP](https://activechoices.com/store) - [CONTACT US](https://activechoices.com/contact/) - [MEMBER LOGIN](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/virtual-presence/page/community.activechoices.com) Search - [![Follow Anese on YouTube](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/hubfs/Images/youtube_2.png)](http://www.youtube.com/anesecavanaugh) - [![Follow IEP Method on Facebook](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/hubfs/Images/facebook.png)](https://www.facebook.com/IEPMethod) - [![Follow Anese on Twitter](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/hubfs/Images/twitter.png)](https://twitter.com/anesecavanaugh) # The Positive Energy Workplace [![](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/hubfs/LinkedIn%20Article%20Cover%20Images%20(17).png)](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/sustainable-leadership-with-alignment) January 9, 2026  by [Anese Cavanaugh](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/author/anese-cavanaugh) ## [Why Alignment Is the Foundation of Sustainable Leadership](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/sustainable-leadership-with-alignment) As leaders, we’re often taught to focus on strategy, performance, execution, and outcomes. And while those things matter, they are not where sustainable leadership actually begins. At ACI, after more than two decades of working with leaders across industries — from Fortune-level organizations to founders, physicians, educators, and creatives — we’ve come back (again and again) to one core truth: **Alignment is the foundation of sustainable, life-giving leadership.** Not effort. Not pushing harder. Not fixing everyone else. Alignment. [Read More ›](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/sustainable-leadership-with-alignment) In [Engagement](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/engagement)/ [Energy Leadership](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/energy-leadership)/ [Authenticity](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/authenticity)/ [Effective Leadership](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/effective-leadership)/ [Leadership Presence](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/leadership-presence)/ [Virtual Presence](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/virtual-presence)/ [Presence](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/presence) [![](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/hubfs/LinkedIn%20Article%20Cover%20Images%20(13).png)](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/2025-leadership-pause) December 22, 2025  by [Anese Cavanaugh](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/author/anese-cavanaugh) ## [A Leadership Pause — Reflecting Before You Move Forward](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/2025-leadership-pause) *AI Transparency: This article was supported by AI to assist with organization and clarity. The content is based on Anese’s original work and was reviewed and approved by Anese.*   As the year comes to a close, there’s a familiar pull to rush ahead — to reset goals, plan next steps, and push forward into what’s next. But before you do, there’s value in an intentional pause. Not to judge the year or rush to meaning — but to *honor* it. When leaders don’t take time to reflect, we often carry unfinished energy with us into the new year. Lessons go unnamed. Wins go unacknowledged. Depletion goes unnoticed. And without realizing it, we begin again already tired. A pause — even a short one — creates space to reconnect with yourself, your leadership, and the way you want to show up moving forward. Below are a few reflection prompts you can sit with over the next few days or weeks. You don’t need to answer them perfectly. Just honestly. [Read More ›](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/2025-leadership-pause) In [Engagement](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/engagement)/ [Energy Leadership](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/energy-leadership)/ [Authenticity](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/authenticity)/ [Effective Leadership](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/effective-leadership)/ [Leadership Presence](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/leadership-presence)/ [Virtual Presence](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/virtual-presence)/ [Presence](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/presence) [![](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/hubfs/LinkedIn%20Article%20Cover%20Images%20(11)-1.png)](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/ai-presence-leadership) December 12, 2025  by [Anese Cavanaugh](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/author/anese-cavanaugh) ## [The more work becomes automated, the more human connection becomes a competitive advantage.](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/ai-presence-leadership) *AI Transparency: This article was supported by AI to assist with organization and clarity. The content is based on Anese’s original work and was reviewed and approved by Anese.*   Most conversations about AI focus on what the technology can do. But the part we can’t afford to ignore is the leader behind the tools — their confidence, clarity, presence, and ability to create real human connection in an increasingly digital landscape. Because right now, many organizations are feeling it: *Trust is thinning. Teams are taxed. People are moving fast — and still feeling behind.* And one of the biggest risks we’re seeing isn’t AI itself… it’s what happens when leaders use AI **without presence**. [Read More ›](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/ai-presence-leadership) In [Engagement](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/engagement)/ [Energy Leadership](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/energy-leadership)/ [Authenticity](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/authenticity)/ [Effective Leadership](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/effective-leadership)/ [Leadership Presence](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/leadership-presence)/ [Virtual Presence](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/virtual-presence)/ [Presence](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/presence) [![](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202022-10-05%20at%208.41.10%20PM.png)](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/iep-and-sales) October 13, 2022  by [Anese Cavanaugh](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/author/anese-cavanaugh) ## [Is the way you (or your people) are showing up ruining your sales/influence/leadership abilities?](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/iep-and-sales) If you are working with customers, hiring (and retaining) people, leading people, selling products or services, applying for a new job or promotion, enrolling people in an idea, or essentially wanting to influence anyone about anything — you are in "sales." (I don't think of it as "sales" — see video below — AND this is the quickest way to speak to this.)   The thing about "sales" and "sales processes"— even the most excellent ones behind the most phenomenal services and products — is that our Intentions, Energy, and Presence (our "IEP") and how we show up in that conversation or process, will make or break our success in the "sale."  Consider the last time you went to buy something, hire someone, or be led by someone— maybe the product you were considering was awesome, the potential hire looked great on paper, or the leader was masterful in their craft and even held a high-level role — but for some reason, it just didn't feel right. You didn't feel good with them. Something was off.  It was likely their IEP — their *Intentional Energetic Presence®* and their *Intentions, Energy, and Presence.* Our IEP is like food coloring in water, it influences and "colors" everything we do, and it is present in every moment. It is the intangible quality that makes us want to follow people or run from them, trust them or feel super careful with them, buy from them or choose their competitor (who may not even have a better product).  Why you maybe missing your mark in sales and leadership. (And why they won't tell you.) [Read More ›](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/iep-and-sales) In [Showing Up, IEP Method](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/showing-up-iep-method)/ [Virtual Presence](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/virtual-presence) [![](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/hubfs/Turquoise%20and%20Monochrome%20Photo%20Heading%20Website%20Facebook%20Cover-png.png)](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/meetings-that-suck-the-life-out-of-you-and-what-to-do-instead) March 4, 2021  by [Anese Cavanaugh](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/author/anese-cavanaugh) ## [Meetings that Suck the Life Out of You (And what to do instead)](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/meetings-that-suck-the-life-out-of-you-and-what-to-do-instead) I had a meeting today with a team who'd asked me for some feedback. Our meeting was to discuss some of the core challenges they were having and how we might address. This is an awesome company, great group of people, doing good and important work, and all totally wiped out. Exhausted. [Read More ›](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/meetings-that-suck-the-life-out-of-you-and-what-to-do-instead) In [Showing Up, IEP Method](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/showing-up-iep-method)/ [Virtual Presence](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/virtual-presence) [All posts](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/all) [Next](https://blog.anesecavanaugh.com/topic/virtual-presence/page/2) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 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