You want to become a leader in your field. What's the best way to develop executive presence?

From my personal experience I have often thought that my presence and influence as a leader is defined by not just by how I interact with staff but also about how they perceive me, and often felt it was a combination of my appearance, communication skills, and the energy I bring in interactions. I feel defining the kind of leader I want to be, one that is approachable, but firm goes a long way in developing executive presence. Having a positive attitude and managing emotions in the midst of the most violent storms has also helped and lastly work is just not about producing results but also cultivating relationships and building a strong network of professional relationships and I think this has helped me develop executive presence.

Understand your strengths, weaknesses, and how you come across to others. Seek feedback from mentors, colleagues, or even professional coaches to gain insights into your presence. Confidence is a key component of executive presence. Believe in your abilities, expertise, and decisions. Practice speaking confidently, maintaining eye contact, and using assertive body language. Learn to articulate your thoughts clearly and concisely. Tailor your communication style to your audience, whether it's through presentations, meetings, or written correspondence. Listen actively to others and engage in thoughtful dialogue. Dress appropriately for your industry and position. Pay attention to grooming, posture, and body language.

Until age 37, I had no clue that I could speak so confidently in public. I was accidentally in a Toastmasters meeting, and I loved the atmosphere. That was the first day I realized that I love public speaking. That was the day when I started to work on my speaking skills. Be it my body language, vocal variety, stage presence, humor, or stories. After 12 years, when I landed in America, the only skills that were valued in this new country were my ability to communicate and articulate my message in a simple and clear manner. I got the job, visibility, and popularity because of this skill. So understanding your strengths and working on them will really create wonders for you.

"Become relevant". Many individuals enter into various fields knowing their why. Unfortunately, most have not considered their "where". Knowing where you want to end up will help guide you on your path to an executive presence. "Do The Work!" In other words, stay current with norms, trends, and projections in your field. Attending conferences and subscribing to appropriate publications and journals may serve as valuable resources in this endeavor. "Own Your Space!" You must establish and maintain a strong professional acumen in you chosen field. Always respect the work of your peers and the insight of the so-called Subject Matter Experts. However, executive presence is established by your own astuteness, perspicacity, and prescience.

The definition of integrity is Thoughts=words=actions. If any of these are not aligned, you are not authentic to yourself and others. Everyday, lets watch these three things and make course corrections on regular basis. Secondly, learn to be a great storyteller and communicate to your kids, teams, and other stakeholders using powerful and authentic stories you have experienced. One, it will make them engage emotionally and mentally; secondly, when you share your experience, it will be with passion and authenticity. They will become your fans. This will build a huge trust because when you share your stories, you are vulnerable to your audience, and vulnerability builds trust.

In his book One Minute Manager, Ken Blanchard said, "Feedback is breakfast of Champions." If you want to be a champion, be hungry for feedback. Ask for it, look for it, demand it. Ask your friends, parents, and bosses for feedback on areas you can improve. Many times you don't even know our strengths and weaknesses. They are called blind spots. The right feedback system can immediately show areas you can strengthen and areas you need to work on.

Being intentionally authentic, inclusive and vulnerable is something that worked for me. The intentions are clear rather than a hidden agenda, when you walk the talk. When the team realizes that you are just like them, they automatically look upon you as a leader. Acceptance is mutual. Respect is mutual. Cooperation and success is a given. These are qualities of a servant leader. Servant does not mean being trampled over. It means servitude as an attitude. Devotion to the cause of success and happiness of all.

An example I’ve seen and still a student in practicing, is being a listener in the room and only speak to encourage the room to drive better ideas.

Confidence: Project confidence in your abilities and decisions. This includes maintaining good posture, making eye contact, speaking confidently, and being assertive without being arrogant. Effective Communication: Hone your communication skills, both verbal and non-verbal. Practice clear and concise communication, active listening, and the ability to articulate your ideas persuasively. Pay attention to your body language, gestures, and facial expressions to convey confidence and credibility. Authenticity: Be authentic and genuine in your interactions. Authentic leaders are perceived as trustworthy and relatable, which enhances their influence and credibility.