Have you ever had, or overheard, a conversation that goes something like this:
“I’m looking to identify several high-potential leaders to attend a leadership training. Do you have any names for me?”
“Yes, in fact, I do. You should look at Nina from accounting. I saw her give a presentation the other day, and I think she really has it.”
“It? What do you mean by ‘it’?
“You know, executive presence. She just looks and acts like a leader.”
What does executive presence really mean? For decades, the term “executive presence” has been synonymous with leaders who present themselves as credible, capable, and confident. Leaders who have developed this skill add value to any effort, whether dealing with a customer-facing issue or inspiring commitment to an upcoming change effort. Many people assume executive presence is a quality rather than a skill, and as a result, they do not put effort into developing it.
Developing Your Executive Presence
The good news is that executive presence is a skill that we can learn, develop, and improve. Stewart Leadership has developed a framework for success – the Stewart Leadership Executive Presence Model. The bedrock of this model is the need to convey confidence and capability across all key stakeholders – your direct reports, your peers, your senior leaders, and your customers. It empowers you with the behaviors you need to be seen as a credible leader based on four critical dimensions.
The model also goes beyond the traditional view of executive presence as one who commands attention or who can deliver a good speech. Too often, one’s image or way of speaking to a large group has been the defining element of a strong executive presence. However, our Executive Presence Model introduces a more contemporary and complete look at executive presence. In addition to how you appear and speak in front of others, it also includes how you make decisions, how you manage your emotions, and how you inspire others. The combination of these four elements paints a clear picture of what great executive presence truly means.
Let’s dive deep into the actions of each of the four Executive Presence quadrants.
How You show up
considers these aspects: carrying yourself with confidence, verbal & non-verbal communication skills, and image.
This involves:
- Commanding a room: first impressions
- Polished and professional
- Dressing for success – your success
- Projecting decisiveness & confidence
- Believing all communication is essential communication.
- Paying attention and listening effectively
- Acting appropriately with others
- Eye contact and body language
How You Decide
considers these aspects: having a point of view, focusing on results, thinking strategically, and involving others.
This involves:
- Taking a position
- Involving others as appropriate
- Making clear and effective decisions
- Delivering results
- Providing clear expectations
- Seeking multiple perspectives
- Defining a problem before solving it
How You Manage Emotions
considers these aspects: being open to feedback, managing your ego, displaying emotional intelligence.
This involves:
- Accepting feedback
- Giving feedback
- Understanding emotional intelligence – the “how.”
- Valuing others
- Behaving with integrity and speaking the truth
- Accepting responsibility for own actions
- Resiliency
How You Inspire Others
considers these aspects: painting an engaging vision of the future, positively tapping into others’ emotions, and communicating new ideas.
This involves:
- Confidence under fire
- Inspiring with vision and storytelling
- Being organizationally savvy
- Connecting others to purpose & vision
- Instilling risk-taking in others
- Challenging the status quo
- Communicating a compelling vision
- Building alliances
- Creating a high-performance environment
NEXT STEPS
A strong executive presence is key to being a credible leader. It is about your ability to inspire confidence across all levels of your organization. Identify one or two strategies you can implement today to strengthen your executive presence in your image, decision-making, emotion management, and inspiration.
