In its simplest terms, executive presence is about your ability to inspire confidence — inspiring confidence in your subordinates that you’re the leader they want to follow, inspiring confidence among peers that you’re capable and reliable, and, most importantly, inspiring confidence among senior leaders that you have the potential for great achievements.
We all make decisions (buying, jobs, relationships) based on various factors: time, money, parameters of the situation, feelings, etc. This “feelings” piece might come from your interactions with a salesperson, the culture-fit in a workplace, or how you were made to feel during a transaction. It is hard to put a finger on, but you know it when you feel it. And, the more significant the opportunity or stakes, the more important that feeling becomes. This feeling bit is also a key factor in having an Executive Presence.
Having a “good executive presence” is hard to define. In most corporate settings, executive presence has traditionally boiled down to three attributes: gravitas, strong communication skills, and the “right” appearance. Let’s dissect these.
Gravitas:
The word ‘gravitas’ has its roots in ancient Rome and was one of the virtues that Romans were expected to possess to fulfill their role in society. It’s translated as weight, seriousness, solemnity, dignity, and importance. It denotes a certain substance or depth of personality that elicits a feeling of respect and trust in others. The word is also linked to ‘gravity’, a centrifugal force that keeps you grounded, and ‘gravitate’, an energy that attracts people to you. If you say that someone has gravitas, you mean that you respect them because they seem serious and intelligent.
People with gravitas:
- Are Self-Aware
- Hone their expertise
- Cultivate presence
- Forge connections
- Build projection (amplify their message)
- Are confident
Communication:
Good communication in the workplace ensures employees have the information they need to perform well, builds a positive work environment, and eliminates inefficiencies. Effective communication should accurately convey information while maintaining or improving human relationships. A good communicator knows the right message to send and the right avenue to send it based on their intended audience and desired outcome.
People with good communication tend to:
- Be active listeners
- Ask good questions
- Provide thoughtful responses
- Have a good command of communication platforms (verbal, written, messaging, virtual)
- Proactively manage in-person and virtual meetings
- Listen to Learn
Appearance:
Appearance is the least-important EP bucket, but it’s the one that changed most in the last decade. Appearance is not just about how your external looks, though that is a factor. It is also indicative of things like authenticity, which didn’t register with survey respondents 10 years ago, Authenticity is revealing who you fundamentally are, and not mimicking some dated, idealized model.
Amp up your Appearance by:
- Dress for the new normal (dress for the day)
- Clean up online and in-person presence
- Build relationships in-person
- Show your roots and values
Ways to make an impact today:
- Speak up 10% more often in meetings
- Speak up in the first 10 minutes
- Follow up – keep networks and relationships fresh
