If you’ve been watching the leaders around you for any length of time, you’ve probably identified those who seem to just have “It”—that combination of skills and attitudes that makes them look and feel like a leader. Many of these charismatic people seem to come by their executive presence naturally—that is, they seem to intuitively understand how to look, dress, speak, and act like a leader without much effort.
If you want to improve your executive presence, watching these charismatic people can be intimidating or frustrating—after all, we can’t all exemplify executive presence so effortlessly!
But if we look carefully at these leaders, we can often find tiny behaviors or skills that almost anyone can practice to improve executive presence.
Here are eight small things you can start practicing today to improve executive presence.
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8 Practical Tips to Improve Executive Presence
1. Lean in—literally.
It’s more than just a metaphor. Turning your body toward your audience and leaning slightly forward communicates interest, engagement, and confidence. Some research even suggests that it activates our left frontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for motivation. That means not only do others respond to our forward posture—we also respond to it, which can make us feel more engaged as well.
2. Pause.
People with good executive presence tend to be decisive and have a good ability to manage their own emotions.Taking time to pause can help develop both abilities. A brief “cheetah pause” in your decision-making process can give you time to evaluate all information, and pausing when emotions are running high can help everyone reset.
3. Watch your language.
Unpolished speakers often rely on verbal tics or filler words to help them through speeches, presentations, or formal meetings. Relying on these fillers can reduce your overall speaking impact and communicate a lack of confidence. Simply removing such words as “just,” “like,” or small sounds such as “um,” “ah,” and “so” can quickly improve communication skills and executive presence.
4. Refine your attire.
The days of the power suit and tie may be gone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t improve your executive presence through your attire. Some tweaks are simple, such as making sure your work clothes fit well. Wear clothing that makes you feel confident; sometimes something as minor as the right pair of shoes or a well-loved accessory can translate into more confidence and a better executive presence.
5. Make eye contact.
In western cultures, eye contact indicates respect and engagement. Practice making eye contact with everyone you work with; aim to make eye contact at least 50% of the time. This small action can help you improve engagement with your direct reports and with your superiors. Not only does it convey respect, but it’s also a vital part of active listening.
6. Speak up.
If you’re just starting out in leadership, or if you’re more of an introverted leader, the idea of speaking up in a group of more experienced leaders or team members can be terrifying. However, there are ways to make it less intimidating. For example, you can amplify someone else’s idea or comment when you agree, or you can ask questions that will benefit the group as a whole. These small efforts may not result in an instant promotion, but they can help you gain confidence and comfort with speaking up in a group setting.
7. Respect the clock and the calendar.
While there are some ways in which the workplace has become more casual, punctuality and deadlines are not among them. If meeting time obligations is a challenge, look for ways to improve your punctuality. Likewise, if you often struggle to meet deadlines, consider how you prioritize; you may need to practice separating the important from the urgent. Showing up fully prepared and on time and meeting deadlines are both signs of a dependable leader.
8. Work on posture.
It’s easy to overlook how much our posture can impact both our physical wellbeing and our executive presence. Knowledge workers especially can slip into bad posture habits when they spend days, months, and years in front of screens. Taking a few minutes a few times per day to do some simple stretches that relieve shoulder, neck, and upper back fatigue can improve your posture and your physical wellbeing—and by extension, your executive presence.
Whether you’re hoping to make the leap into leadership someday or you’re navigating a leadership role and struggling with executive presence, just a few small changes can help you show up with the kind of authority, confidence, and charisma that makes others sit up and take notice. Practice these tips, and soon enough, people will be talking about how you have that undefinable “It” quality!
At Stewart Leadership, we’ve helped hundreds of leaders improve how they show up, engage, and deliver business results and people results. To learn more about our Executive Presence development, call us.
Self-check:
- Is there one specific skill or attribute of executive presence that I know I need to improve?
- Is there one small tip I can work on today to improve executive presence?
- What is one practice I’ve seen other leaders do that I could incorporate to improve my executive presence?
