What is executive presence? The best leaders walk into a room and command attention. That’s executive presence. The leaders who possess this ability are probably not even aware of it or don’t try too hard to bring attention to themselves – they just do.
But if you think business leaders are born with it, then you’re wrong. There are skills that you can learn and develop. This is what executive coaching is for.
What is Executive Presence?
Think about a leader who you genuinely admire. Now, think about what it is about them that you admire. You might be surprised to learn that there are a few common attributes that make them similar to other leaders who command executive presence.
But what is executive presence? It is a set of learned skills and personal traits that allow a person to command authority and attention among those they lead. It also refers to people’s perception of authority, which means that it is more about how you project yourself towards others and how others react to that.
Executive presence is about how one acts, looks, speaks, and leads. It exemplifies your professional value and makes you respected among your subordinates and peers.
Why is Executive Presence Important?
Executive presence is important because it is based on people’s perception of you. That perception is based on the impact and effect you have on people who you work with, whether fellow leaders or subordinates.
It is also important because it refers to your ability to inspire confidence in other people. Leadership refers to someone’s ability to influence beyond words. Your ability to do that through your actions and how others perceive you is critical in your ability to lead with success.
Skills to Develop Executive Presence
Here’s some good news for aspiring leaders: executive presence can be developed. Sure, some people naturally possess it, but those who do not are able to develop the essential skills and attributes that enable you to command executive presence.
Public Speaking
Public speaking is a common fear among many people. A leader with executive presence is someone who can speak in front of the public with confidence. Their presence alone is enough to command an audience and gain attention. Public speaking is more than just verbal communication; body language and confidence is also a crucial part of effective public speaking.
Self-Awareness
Do you know how others perceive you? Self-awareness is one of the foundations to mastering executive presence.
Some are naturally self-aware and are able to assess how others see them. For those who don’t, it is important to enlist the help of trusted advisors that can be brutally honest with you and give the feedback you need. It is important to know your strengths so you can capitalize on them and to be aware of your weaknesses so you can make the necessary improvements.
Inefficient leaders often confuse their leadership position for authority. They do not value others’ perception of them when in reality, this is crucial in their ability to motivate and influence others.
Emotional Intelligence
Emotional intelligence refers to one’s ability to understand, assess, and take into consideration the emotions of others. This is an important quality of a leader and is crucial to developing your executive presence because it shows how compassionate and intuitive you are. People are drawn to someone who is sensitive to other people’s feelings and can take their feelings into account when making important business and organizational decisions.
It is not a coincidence that the most successful and effective leaders have high emotional intelligence. It goes with the duties and responsibilities of a leader.
Effective Communication
Good communication skills are a must for a leader. You use your communication skills to interact with the people who you lead and your fellow leaders. But communication is not just about relaying messages to one another efficiently. It is also about building interpersonal relationships.
A leader with executive presence is someone who is able to use communication as an opportunity to connect on a personal level. The best leaders are also good listeners. When a leader listens, he must be actively listening. This means that a leader should be fully engaged in a conversation, they ask questions, and use listening as an opportunity to learn. According to the best executive coaches, active listening makes a good leader more effective.
Integrity
An effective leader is someone who can be trusted; it’s also someone who will do what they say they will do. One of the ways that a leader can establish executive presence is by showing conviction and maintaining integrity. Professional integrity is hard to come by and those who possess it are able to distinguish themselves from other leaders.
The thing about integrity is that it is firmly established in a person. It cannot be shaken or influenced by external factors (which can change at a moment’s notice). At the same time, those who show conviction and have integrity are the leaders that can own up to their mistakes or show their vulnerabilities. People are drawn to this over those who show fake confidence and strength.
Calm Under Pressure
Executives and business leaders are subject to tremendous pressure as part of their everyday duties and responsibilities. However, you won’t be able to tell by the way they handle themselves in these situations.
How you respond to stressful situations sends an important message to your team. If you are easily angered or flustered, it can undermine the team members’ perception of your leadership. On the other hand, your ability to stay calm and to make decisions under pressure is one way to reaffirm your executive presence.
Quiet Confidence
There is a fine line that separates confidence from arrogance. The best leaders that exhibit executive presence are the ones who are confident but humble. They are not loud and extroverted.
A healthy balance between confidence and humility is what sets this type of leader apart. They are confident without the need to prove it – to themselves or anyone else. They just are.
Signature Style
A leader’s signature style might seem like a superficial attribute to add to this list. But the truth is, your appearance and how you present yourself is also a critical aspect of being a confident leader.
Your signature style must be professional and presentable. Establishing executive presence is all about showcasing who you are before you even utter a word, which is why style plays an important factor here.
