What is executive presence—and do you have it? If you don’t, how can you get it?
You can’t realize your full potential as a leader without executive presence. As you rise up in your organization, executive presence becomes more and more critical. The higher the stakes, the more you need that power and presence.
Likewise, organizations need their leaders to take full command of their executive presence. Effective leaders who drive results and rally their team behind them radiate an undeniable executive presence.
What Is Strong Executive Presence?
When a leader with strong executive presence speaks, people listen, feel inspired, and know that person has command of the room. They speak with conviction, confidence, and certainly.
Strong executive presence is what gives the best leaders their persuasive power, the respect of everyone in their company, and the ability to influence people at all levels—no matter what position they hold.
All leaders with executive presence have a handful of key executive presence qualities in common, such as these:
- Confidence
- Charisma
- Decisiveness
- Boldness
- Insightfulness
- Powerful, clear speech
Do you see these qualities within yourself in certain situations?
If you have executive presence, you have an aura that draws others to you. You might also think of it as a magnetism or charisma. You’re a compelling force inside your organization and team. When you speak, people listen, feeling inspired and uplifted. You convey confidence, command respect, make an impact, provide value, and get noticed.
You may also have a nascent executive presence that reveals itself in certain contexts. Even if you haven’t yet cultivated executive presence, you may have particular qualities that make up an important part of the whole picture. You can leverage those qualities to begin projecting executive presence.
Why Do You Need Executive Presence?
Leaders who acquire the essential traits of executive presence become the elite performers who influence outcomes, contribute to major decisions, and drive change for the betterment of the company. They transform self-doubt and uncertainty into self-assurance, energy, and the conviction needed to successfully navigate the corporate landscape and advance to the upper levels of the organizational hierarchy.
A leader with executive presence is a compelling force inside the organization. They don’t rely on authority or title to shape outcomes, but rather, on their influence. Their words compel people to action. Their presence motivates and inspires. Their team is fiercely engaged in their work because they believe in their mission and their leader.
Executive presence is also a prerequisite for higher-level positions. You may still be able to do a good job in your current role without executive presence. But how much farther could you go by becoming a truly influential leader with a strong executive presence? Cultivate executive presence to advance into those senior leadership roles. Developing executive presence is your secret to success. Fulfilling your potential begins here.
Executive Presence – What Is It Why, You Need It and How to Get It?
Think about your peers, your bosses, other executive-level leaders, famous people, and your friends. Who has EP? Who doesn’t? The ones with executive presence draw others to them naturally. People gravitate to them and want to impress them.
What Does Powerful Executive Presence Look Like in Practice?
Leaders with an executive presence excel in all of the following ways:
- Bring power, conviction, and a clear point of view to their presentations.
- Carry themselves with confidence and feel sure of their abilities when engaging in high-level meetings with customers and senior leaders.
- Present a polished and poised appearance that creates immediate credibility.
- Gain the confidence and respect of their supervisors and customers.
- Communicate with authority by eliminating weak language like qualifiers and diminishing statements.
- Make their points with clear, precise language that ensures others grasp their meaning.
- Deliver presentations with compelling language and memorable stories.
- Get right to the point in emails and other written correspondence, being brief, not burying the lead, and using polished language.
At first glance, executive presence may seem like a mysterious quality that some have and others don’t. However, as this list of executive presence capabilities shows, you can grow your EP step by step in clear, concrete ways.
Example of a Leader with Executive Presence
I’ll share the example of a client named Connor to illustrate executive presence more clearly. When Connor walks into a room, all eyes turn toward him. His presence is unmistakable. He projects confidence, and people instinctively trust him. He speaks with authority. When he poses a question, people respond thoughtfully, giving the issue the gravity it deserves. And not just his direct reports—he will boldly ask a question in a meeting with senior leaders, and they’ll address him as an equal because he presents himself as one.
Connor has an undeniable executive presence—and you can develop the same gravitas, authority, and power of expression within yourself.
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How Can You Develop Your Executive Presence?
You can cultivate executive presence through training and practice, focusing on the areas outlined below.
1 – See the big picture.
You’re a strategic, big-picture thinker who doesn’t become mired down in tactics. You think “outside the cubical” and take a whole-company perspective when solving problems or seeking new opportunities. You’re able to communicate in financial terms to show your worth where it matters most: the company’s bottom line.
2 – Take strategic risks.
You capitalize on ambiguity and change. Leaders are revealed and careers are made when people prove their ability to navigate stormy seas. You challenge yourself and stretch your capabilities. You’re able to conquer self-doubt and break through self-imposed limitations by seeking out opportunities to move beyond your comfort zone.
3 – Develop strong interpersonal skills.
You build confidence, trust and credibility by speaking clearly and persuasively. You think and act more like a leader than a manager. As a leader, you inspire and motivate others by advocating for what’s best for the organization, not just your work group. When you succeed, you make sure to share the limelight with others.
4 – Focus on the things that matter most.
You improve your productivity, influence, and reputation for high-level achievement by focusing on the things that matter most. This not only makes you a peak performer; it allows you to maintain a healthy balance in your life.
5 – Constantly seek to improve yourself.
You find personal fulfillment and professional success by capitalizing on your strengths and minimizing your mistakes. You proactively invite feedback to demonstrate your passion for self-development and desire to contribute to your company’s success. You increase your growth potential by investing in the most important asset you possess—yourself.
Developing your executive presence may seem like a daunting task. There is a lot of work involved, but it’s the kind of work that will have far-reaching, long-lasting benefits. You will become more motivated, learn how to recognize and promote your own value, and develop a meaningful and effective career plan. These are all things you can accomplish on your way to becoming a better leader.
To grow your executive presence, consider taking advantage of Joel’s executive presence coaching services. Joel’s Executive Presence Model will clarify how to begin developing executive presence in a methodical, step-by-step way. Even if you’ve never believed you could possess executive presence, his leadership coaching techniques and advice will help you become a powerful and influential leader who drives results. Joel’s book Executive Presence: 4 Ways to Convey Confidence and Command Respect as a Leader also serves as a vital resource for any organizational library.
