Developing Executive Presence

I frequently speak with clients about confidence and body language when they are thinking about positioning themselves for future roles or even in delivering presentations. But when we mix these components with gravitas, clear communication and being authentic in the workplace, we start talking about something less tangible and easy to describe - Executive Presence.

Researching more on this recently, I was interested to hear the perspectives around what this covers. Three areas were mentioned that can be helpful to consider:

1. How we think and how our thoughts come out - (can we communicate well and articulate ideas?)

2. How people experience us - (are we interested, positive and clear?)

3. How people connect with us - (do we build relationships and are we open and approachable?)

So why is it important to think about our Executive Presence?

There are a number of areas where developing ‘Executive Presence’ can be helpful, when we think about our professional growth. I highlight a few below from my own experiences.

• Career progression

• Being noticed for new opportunities

• Building trust and credibility

• Developing leadership effectiveness

• Getting attention quickly

So, what can you do about it?

From my own experiences there are few areas that you can focus on to help support developing executive presence. But the top 5 things to consider from the outset are:

1. Be self aware of how you are coming across. Seek out feedback from those you trust to understand your strengths and areas to develop.

2. Improve your communication skills. Invest time in improving public speaking skills and delivering presentations. Practice delivering presentations to build confidence and to improve impact.

3. Become an active listener. Mirror body language and tone, ask clarifying questions and repeat back to ensure you have understood.

4. Manage appearances and ensure first impressions are positive. Coming across as ‘polished’ is key here. You don’t need to be a fashion icon but do consider how you ‘appear’ to others. If you struggle with this, seek out some professional support.

5. Invest in relationships and build your network. Create strong connections within your organization and externally, to improve your credibility, build trust and expand your future opportunities.

Final Thoughts

Knowing that ‘Executive Presence’ is a ‘thing’ that needs consideration, can be daunting if you are not even sure what it consists of, or where to start. Once you appreciate the components that make up this intangible area, it is easier to break down the development angles that require attention.

But as with many aspects of personal growth, seeking out feedback to understand our current performance should always be the first step. We cannot possibly know how we are being perceived by others and that is the tricky aspect of this development area. Once we have the baseline though, we can start to plan and take action, and to build the ‘presence’ we want to be known for and consequently set ourselves up for achieving even greater accomplishments.

Wishing you success in growing your executive presence and achieving your career goals!