Executive presence is not a simple term to be explained in a few words and is often misunderstood with common leadership qualities.
But why does one need to hire an executive? Does experience really matter? What qualities are required to get hired?
All of these matter and more than this, it is the brilliance that companies look for in their senior administartors.
How does executive presence work?
It is unquestionable that it is a relatively new idea that has developed to fulfil the needs of contemporary leadership. It helps to explain why it is so difficult to provide a clear definition of executive presence. It is a theory that needs to receive morenot received enough attention or in-depth discussion.
Additionally, the idea of executive presence is really simple. It is difficult and unfair to evaluate it using only absolute metrics. For instance, it's simple to determine whether a leader has a keen sense of statistics or excellent communication abilities. But you can't tell if a leader has executive presence without studying him or her repeatedly in many contexts. As a result, when asked "what is executive presence," most people struggle to find the proper answer.
Executive presence is about your capacity to instil confidence in others. This includes building confidence in peers that you are capable and dependable as well as, most crucially, instilling a sense in senior leaders that you have the potential for big accomplishments.
Why is it important to have a strong executive presence?
Want to lead a big group of people toward a challenging goal? Do you want to be in charge of notable projects with lots of visibility? Do you want to be present when crucial decisions are made in a boardroom? Do you want to be the role model for your juniors? You see, in order to accomplish these aims, executive presence is required.
To be given the opportunities that will advance your career, you need executive presence. In order to join a company's leadership team, you must possess it. Additionally, from a business standpoint, executive presence is something that the leadership team should possess and foster in order for it to filter down to the teams. In either case, it is a skill that is highly valued and compensated.
3 foundational elements of executive presence
- Gravitas
The weight of your personality and the assurance you project in your manner together make up your gravitas. Remember that gravity is a skill that must be painstakingly developed; it is not something that comes naturally.
- Communication skills
You must convey your ideas clearly and with assurance. You should always have supporting statistics while speaking in a boardroom. You must be able to persuade your seniors and peers that your strategy is the best course of action and will work. Your staff should be motivated by your assurance as you raise their spirits and set attainable goals for them.
- Appearance
No, we are not talking about your appearance, or lack thereof. Appearance does not equal glamour or attractiveness. It also doesn't reflect who you are. Your outside appearance affects how you come across at work. The majority of the standards that control appearance are implicit; nothing is unbreakable. But it's crucial to keep in mind that a suit and tie don't exude confidence.
How do you improve your executive presence?
It's interesting to note that executive presence is referred to by Forbes as a "talent" rather than a "trait." Executive presence is a skill that can be learnt and must be developed until it comes naturally to you. It is not a personality type, like leadership. How exactly do you develop executive presence, though? The following actions are beneficial:
- Clearly express your goals and concepts
Without precise expression, the majority of outstanding ideas suffer a terrible demise. Even if you have a brilliant concept, you must communicate it to your teammates and peers in the most understandable way. Then and only can your concept come to fruition. Nothing should be mistranslated.
- Make time your ally
Executives in the C-suite are constantly pressed for time. As a result, conciseness of ideas is crucial. You often have five minutes or less at high-level meetings to persuade the others that your idea has validity. A significant component of executive presence is how quickly you can persuade others of something's importance.
- Be able to function well under pressure
When the market is favourable and people have had plenty of time to conduct their research, many people can develop a business strategy. However, even in dire circumstances like recessions or pandemics, only those with outstanding executive presence are capable of developing a winning strategy. A sign of your leadership presence is how effective you are under pressure.
- Recognize your own leadership style
There is no one right approach to lead. In actuality, there are numerous varieties of leadership. You should be aware of your uniqueness as a leader and use it to your advantage. The first step to becoming a successful executive is understanding your talents and weaknesses.
- Consider how others may perceive you
While self-awareness will boost your confidence, it's also critical to understand how others perceive you. A leader that is out of touch with reality lacks a pulse on the team or business and may not be aware of his or her reputation.
- Use your body language as a tool
What you don't say with words may be communicated through your body language. And rest assured that if you play a role that is highly visible, people will pay attention to these minor aspects about you. So, learn to control your body and thoughts so that only pure peace emanates from you.
- Make an investment in yourself
Most of us are not born with the ability to respond calmly in a crisis or talk clearly when we first wake up. These are abilities that must be acquired. Putting money into yourself is the best course of action for this. Learn leadership skills and how to project an executive presence.
