A few weeks ago, in a Black Heights podcast, I asked Mr. Darcelus Reid what his definition of executive presence was, and he said, “the way you communicate, your appearance, how you shake a person’s hand and look them in the eye along with other things.” He was spot on with these examples, but somehow many people struggle to understand it as if it is something magical. So today, I am writing to provide some clarity into what executive presence is to help you as the reader better understand it and to cultivate and build upon it. Executive presence is a skill that can be developed over time.
What is executive presence and why do we need it?
Executive presence is your ability to inspire confidence in others that you are the leader they want to follow. It is a skill that shows you are capable and reliable. To senior leaders, it shows you have the potential to accomplish great things as a leader. Your executive presence sends signals to leaders if they should give you access to opportunities. After all, most of the opportunities you get will be when you’re not in the room. The majority of opportunities you will get in your career will depend on your ability to show confidence in what you can do and how this confidence inspires others.
Building your executive presence
Let me start off by saying, everyone can improve their executive presence. Executive presence is a skill and there will be some people who are more naturally gifted with this skill. For example, I have a very deep voice and a muscular frame that works well with commanding attention. With focus we should all be working to improve our executive presence as the more senior you become the more it is required.
Here are four key steps to improving your executive presence.
Your appearance can’t be a distraction
First impressions are powerful, and your visual appearance makes the first impression. You want to make sure your first impression shows and inspires confidence. This certainly doesn’t mean looking like a fashion model, but it is making sure your appearance is appropriate for your company’s culture and is like those at the level you want to be at. Find someone in the company that has a leadership role higher than you and pay attention to their clothing choices, their grooming, and tailoring. Make sure your grooming and tailoring don’t distract from the impression you want others to have of you.
Build on your communication skills
A great leader is one who can communicate very well and if you’ve seen someone with good executive presence one thing you will notice is that they are great communicators. For example, President Obama has a remarkable ability to communicate and inspire people through his speeches. Watch some of them, he is the epitome of sharp, neat and confident. Build your communication skills across all mediums: writing, in-person or virtually.
Be an active listener
One of the most important communication skills that many people often forget is listening. People with good executive presence are great listeners. Watch a clip on how President Obama answered tough questions during his presidency. A lot of questions are 2 and even 3 parts but he has the ability to listen well, dissect what is being asked and articulate a response back. The only way he can do this is by engaging with 100% attention. The ability to listen also demonstrates that you are confident which is a critical element of executive presence.
Have a plan (vision) and be able to articulate your plan very well
One of the most important parts of inspiring others is getting them to buy into your vision. For you to get people to buy into your vision you must have one. Your vision is what you are going to accomplish, and you should be able to communicate it flawlessly at any given point. It could be at dinner, or an early morning phone call, or on the elevator ride with an executive to your office. A well thought out vision that is articulated well is what sets you apart and is a very powerful tool to inspire others.
BH Nugget:
Now that you have identified a few ways to improve your executive and leadership presence it’s time to put your style to the test. Identify a trusted colleague who will have the opportunity to observe you in a leadership moment. Ask them beforehand to observe you and to provide you feedback. What did you do well? What are things that you can tweak? This will go a long way into helping you develop your executive presence.
EARN MORE FASTER.
LEARN HOW TO MASTER ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
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