I Need More Executive Presence

What the heck is executive presence anyway? This enigmatic quality, while frequently lauded, can feel shrouded in ambiguity. Do you really need it? If so, how do you know what it is and how can you get it?

Let’s unpack this in parts.

What is Executive Presence?

Executive presence is difficult to define, but is a captivating aura that surrounds a leader. According to a blog post on Harvard Business Review (HBR), executive presence is a mix of gravitas, communication skills, and appearance. It helps you to inspire trust, command attention, and propel positive change.

Now let’s break it down the piece parts.

Gravitas: The Linchpin of Executive Presence

According to Rebecca Newton, also published in HBR, having gravitas at work means you are taken seriously, your contributions are considered important, and you are trusted and respected. It is a quiet power that increases your ability to persuade and influence and is likely to fuel the extent to which you rise in an organization.

According to a study done in 2022, gravitas is exhibited by:

• Confidence

• Decisiveness

• Inclusiveness

• Respect for Others

• Vision

• Integrity

Communication: The Art of Captivating

Communication is the means by which your leadership and influence is disseminated. Combined with Gravitas, it is your magic elixir to create value and lead a team or organization. Communication serves as the bridge between your leadership and those you lead. It's the tool that empowers you to articulate your vision, inspire action, and forge connections.

In that same study from 2022, they found that communication skills are exhibited by:

• Superior speaking skills

• Command of a room / zoom meeting

• Listening to learn orientation

• Ability to read an audience

• Authenticity

Appearance:The Power of Presentation

While we strive for a world beyond superficial judgments, appearance undeniably plays a role in executive presence. A polished and professional demeanor fosters trust and creates a positive first impression.

The 2002 study indicated that appearance is reflected by:

• Polished look

• Authenticity

• Fitness / Vigor

• New normal style of dress (business casual)

• Curation of online image

• Willingness to show up in person

Do You Need Executive Presence?

Executive presence isn't a mere nicety; it's a catalyst for career advancement. Executive presence is really your ability to inspire trust and confidence. Have you ever worked for someone you didn’t believe in or trust? If so, it is possible you doubted them, questioned them, and maybe, because of this, you didn’t do the work they assigned with all the vigor or attention it deserved.

Are there other ways to inspire trust and confidence? Sure. But executive presence is the “confidence package” that has been promoted and expected in small and large companies worldwide.

According to a study in 2020, by the Center for Talent Innovation, executive presence accounts for 26% of what it takes to advance within an organization. Meaning that if you have two people with the same skills, but one has more “executive presence”, they will more likely be promoted.

In that same study, they found that 67% of senior leaders believe gravitas is the most important quality of executive presence. This means exuding confidence and staying calm under pressure, maintaining a strong reputation, and radiating belief in a vision.

Do You Have Executive Presence?

Just like the famous court case in 1964 around pornography (outlined below), it may be hard to describe, but you know it when you see it.

The GEC Research Center uncovered the behaviors that most undermine leaders’ executive presence. Leaders commonly engage in these behaviors without realizing how greatly they’re affecting their career success. These can be coined “but” behaviors—the behaviors that cause executives to say, “I’d love to promote you, but…” Leaders ranked “indecisive” (88%), “timid” (85%), “lacking confidence” (84%), “too verbose” (75%), and “quiet” (72%) as the behaviors that most undermine executive presence.

The Path to Cultivating Executive

Presence

That is where the good news lies. According to Sally Williamson & Associates, 98% of leaders were not born with executive presence. Instead, they need to build it through mentorship and coaching.

Think about the core characteristics that underly all the desired traits:

Confidence. If you don’t have it, fake it til you become it. Studies show that faking confidence will lead to confidence. Per this Ted Talk, try the power pose to increase your confidence before an important meeting.

Preparedness. Being prepared both increases your confidence and ensures you are entering discussions with the right information to provide the right context and decision making.

Know your audience. Tailor your communication style to resonate with your audience. Consider their preferences and tailor your approach accordingly. Are you talking to the CEO? Are they detail oriented? Do they get caught in the weeds if you provide too much detail? Do they lose interest after 5 minutes if you didn’t get to the point. What do they know already? Do you need to recap anything? If they aren’t detail oriented, but may ask a question that gets into the details, leverage that appendix for supporting information.

Listen. Be a learner, not a judger. If someone challenges you, try to understand their point of view. Identify the 10% of what they are saying that has validity and focus on that. It is better to hear people out then to immediately provide a counter argument. This increases your “learning to listen” ratio.

Emotional Intelligence. Emotional intelligence helps you understand people better, avoid judgment, and be more empathetic.

Be your authentic self. Having executive presence doesn’t necessitate abandoning your true self. Do you lead with humor, that is still OK. Are you naturally more casual in your demeanor? That is also OK. You can have gravitas and be more casual or funny.

Work with a coach. Consider working with a coach such as myself to identify areas for growth and develop a personalized strategy to cultivate your executive presence. And with proprietary tools such as the ELI Assessment, we can understand your lens on the world and how it may be getting in the way of you building that presence and growing your career.

By embarking on this journey of self-development, you'll refine your leadership skills, bolster your influence, and propel yourself towards achieving your full potential.