Executive presence is worth developing for individuals that want to be great managers and leaders. Executive presence does not come from a fancy title, but within us. Yes, experience is part of what is required, but there are behaviors that have a much greater impact on the result. Behaviors such as empathy, confidence and vision are some of the foremost drivers to executive presence. No one is born with executive presence, but it can be developed. Here are seven keys to developing executive presence:
1. Be self-aware: Perhaps the most important step to developing an executive presence is to be self-aware. In some ways human nature makes this challenging, but it’s essential you develop a high enough level of EI (emotional intelligence) to realize how your behavior impacts those around you. No matter what level you achieve in your career, it’s critical to step back and understand that impact. Consider getting feedback from a few trusted co-workers and associates. An executive coach can also be beneficial to help you become self-reflective, as long as you are open to change. Remember, the aim of having a professional image is to be the best possible version of you. To achieve this goal you have to be open to looking in the mirror and making the required changes.
2. First impressions matter: All the research I have done indicates that first impressions really do matter. Ignore this knowledge at your own peril. While you can recover from poor first impressions, it is very challenging and takes time. This means you need to be prepared for interactions and meetings in advance, including ones that are not scheduled, which can happen at conferences, on airplanes and numerous other venues. By being self-aware and working on your executive presence you can assure that the first impression you make, will be an excellent one.
3. Look and sound the part: The old saying “dress to impress” is true. You want to look the part. While you should also never over-dress, you should seek to dress for the role you are seeking. Consider what type of people you interface with, as you want them to feel comfortable as well. You should also pay attention to your employers “style” and seek to emulate what the managers and executives do at your organization. Additionally, it’s not just clothes that matter. Be self-aware of your body language and seek to have a strong vocabulary. Utilizing “word of the day” calendars and vocabulary apps can help you develop a broader vocabulary. As well, be certain to know the specific technical terms, acronyms and abbreviations that are commonly utilized in your industry.
4. Be empathetic: Developing an executive presence means being considerate of others. A successful executive needs to manage well up, down and across the organization. You should work on building these skills early in your career. Always listen first and listen with intent to understand the other person and their position. Also, “don’t burn any bridges.” You never know where someone will end up and they may just be the person who reviews your resume down the road. If you don’t have empathy, your resume may quickly be moved to the “circular file.” Besides, being empathetic is the right thing to do. Learn to determine what others think is a win and what makes them tick. Executive presence also means delivering lots of praise for others when appropriate.
5: Be confident: To inspire others you must have a level of self-confidence that is clear to others around you, while not being perceived as arrogant. Having a proper mindset is required to have the right type of confidence. Mentors and executive coaches can help you optimize your confidence while developing EI. While a leader needs to exude confidence, there are times you need to take a back seat and share the limelight with others. Depending on your audience, having an executive presence means being flexible, knowing when to say “I don’t know” and adopting to the environment, while being calm and cool under pressure.
6. Master communications: To develop executive presence it’s essential that you become a master of communications. This includes both verbal and written communications. Not only should you learn and practice the technical aspects of speaking and writing, you need to consider and understand the impact of your communications on others. Be certain that you seek out feedback on your writing and speaking. If you have never had formal public speaking and presentation training, it’s one of the first actions you should take after reading this article. Your presentations need to be professional and have “impact.”
7. Have vision: To be seen as a leader one must have a vision for the organization. Don’t wait for things to go wrong, or for someone to ask. Develop a vision for your department or organization and help others to see it and believe in it. However, don’t forget to get management buy-in. No matter what your level, you will be most successful when others feel like they helped develop the solution. Having vision is not a common skill. Seek out mentors and coaches that can help you develop and hone this rare, but critical skill for executive presence.
Executive presence is something that you recognize when you see it and you clearly notice when it’s missing. It consists of experience, self-confidence, inspiring confidence and trust in others, an ability to make tough decisions, providing vision to your organization and a healthy smattering of charisma. People want to follow inspirational leaders and they exist at all levels of the organization. While you can be a manager without it, executive presence can obviously help your career and inspire high levels of success for you and your team. Clearly, executive coaches and experienced mentors can help you build on strengths and deal with weaknesses, but you must be open to the change. It takes work, but by being open to self-reflection and being self-aware, you can develop and significantly improve your level of executive presence and be all that you can be. A leader with executive presence is indeed as memorable as they are desirable.
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