3 Personas to improve "Executive Influence"

Are you a Leader hoping aspiring to be a CXO? then this article is for you. Congratulations on reaching where you are in your journey. You are now poised to take that leap into senior management but as you may know, a corporate career is like a pyramid and it keeps getting narrower as?you move up. Everyone at your level has an education, works hard and is aspiring to get to the next level. So what is going to separate you from the rest?

You need a “Coach” to guide you in your ascent to reach the pinnacle of your career. Someone who has climbed the corporate ladder and been a CXO himself. Someone who can help you with your blind spots and get you there quicker, so you avoid making mistakes. As a former CXO, a professionally certified (ICF-PCC)?and John Mattone (coach to Steve jobs) certified executive coach I have helped thousands across the world and can help you too.

If you are a?leader who is interested in becoming a CXO, then click here know about my CXO 90 day challenge. www://cxohive.com/midcareer/

If you are a CXO reading this, kindly book an appointment for a free discovery call on https://calendly.com/cxohive/30-min

3 Personas to improve "Executive Influence"

Now in case you are wondering what “Persona” ?means, let’s look at the origins. In ancient Latin, the word?persona?meant "mask." The word also can refer to a character played by an actor. In marketing we often refer to a Target person or in software we refer to “user personas”. They both imply a type of person with demographics and psycho graphics.

In our lives too, our “Persona” with?our boss is very different from that when we are with friends or when we are with our children.

At work we need to develop a tool kit of several “personas”. When we talk with to a CFO you can be rest assured he wants to see the numbers but perhaps when we talk to a CMO?a great story or imagery might be more beneficial.

Whilst there are many personas one needs to have in our tool kit, 3 are extremely critical for any Executive level leader.

1.?SALESMAN PERSONA : ?In any commercial organisation resources are always limited and will get diverted towards initiatives that meet strategy objectives as well as returns for the shareholder. Any idea or plan inevitably get evaluated by its ability to generate revenue, improve service or save costs.

As a?Leader if you are unable to sell an idea or a project or what your function intends to do, resources will not be allocated to you. If you are applying for a new role you need to be able to sell yourself. You need to be able to learn to sell, whether it entails effort in being extroverted , putting on an engaging style, meeting a number of people or lobbying for your idea.

I have heard a number of my introverted clients say that they find this tough as its not in their character. The only advice that for them is to be like an actor on stage. Play the part that is required and for the time its required. Not playing the part will definitely be career limiting.

2.?DEPENDABLE PERSONA : Whatever the situation you need to be able to demonstrate that you are dependable and in charge, on top of things. If there is a crisis or a new market development have a point of view and take action. Demonstrate decisiveness and act quickly. Taking some action is better than taking no action at all.

Be?decisive and?very concrete and make steps going forward and?inspire confidence in people around you. Don't wait to be told what to do. Give people a sense of structure. Give people a sense of?trust that somebody's in charge and?knows what they're doing.

3.?LEADER AS A COACH : Contrary to popular belief this is not about?telling your team what to do. Coaching is about listening. Have?a persona where your team feels safe to tell you things knowing full well that they will be listened to. As you go higher up in the ladder your span of control widens and its not possible to know the details. If your team knows that you will listen, you will get both the good and bad news faster. If something is not working or going well at the ground level you will know of it faster and will be able to fix it before it spirals out of control. Type A macho leaders who only give instructions, are opinionated and don’t like listening to bad news run the risk of not being told as nobody wants to be hanged for being the messenger of ?the bad news.

To sum up, there are many persona’s you need to develop to deal with different people. Build a tool kit that helps you succeed at work or home and don’t be afraid to experiment to help you achieve your goals.

If you are a?leader who is interested in becoming a CXO, then click here know about my CXO 90 day challenge. https://www//cxohive.com/midcareer/

If you are a CXO reading this kindly book an appointment for a free discovery call on https://calendly.com/cxohive/30-min