Executive Presence - Why You Need It
So, what is the mystique surrounding executive presence?
Anyone aspiring to stand out as a leader needs this X-factor that has single handedly advanced careers. Executive presence distinguishes you. It’s the ease to connect with others naturally, communicate effectively, command a room, inspire confidence and make a favorable impression—all while being authentically you.
With executive presence you are more likely to persuade and influence the decision-makers who have a say on how quickly you rise through your organization. And in most settings, all the important decisions about your career progression are often made when you are not in the room. Hence, having great executive presence is a sure guarantee that you will be considered for that promotion or high visibility role. The fact is, the greater the opportunity, the greater the need to have executive presence.
If you are not there yet, the good news is that executive presence is within your reach. Unlike charisma, which is a trait you are born with, presence thankfully is not. Presence is a skill you can hone and develop.
Here are 3 ways you can immediately start building executive presence with confidence:
Understand how others perceive you: For decision-makers to see you as the leader you are, you must get clear about how others see you. This feed-back is critical so you can determine what areas you need to work on improving right away. Request feed-back on how you are perceived by your mentor, coach, boss, colleagues, and team members. The more diverse the feed-back, the better able you will be to identify any patterns or areas or concerns. “Perception is reality” right?
Build your communication skills: Focus on specifically developing your communication skills in all areas - virtually, face-to-face and in writing. Being an exceptional listener is also a must-have communication skill. Great listeners are better at engaging with others and asking insightful questions all while showing great respect to others: People with great presence are great communicators.
Learn to operate effectively under stress: When you are under pressure do you appear flustered or rushed and not quite ‘in control’? It is important that you communicate to others that you can be trusted to handle big responsibility by responding to sudden developments or crisis with calm and composure. That is executive presence. The alternative is that of being seen as overwhelmed and unprepared. These are certainly not the actions that would inspire others to be confident in your ability to take on larger assignments or to be even promoted. It is imperative to have a ‘keep calm and carry-on’ mentality to achieve leadership presence.
Having the gravitas of executive or leadership presence no longer needs to be a well-kept secret. You can start honing these skills and building them to reflect the values and beliefs that are important to you. Then, you will be able to bring your true self into any setting so you can stand out and connect better with others naturally. In other words, you can build your presence AND be authentically you. When you do this you will be happier and more confident all while leaving that lasting impression you desire: To be taken more seriously; recognition of your contributions, gaining the trust and respect of other leaders etc. So start practicing and claiming the executive and leadership presence that will put your best self forward every time.
