Executive Presence – What is it and Why You Need it

“Executive presence!” A magical buzzword and phrase often whispered in meetings and throughout the [virtual] office. Interestingly enough, it is an ambiguous concept, even a contentious topic at times, and generally a term that many leaders and employees struggle to define and understand. It is most definitely an elusive, intangible characteristic that great leaders are consistently trying to cultivate. Is it the Holy Grail? The je ne sais quoi?factor of leadership skills? Perhaps. Executive presence is multi-dimensional; a highly nuanced skill that can be learned. Embodying it is critical to your success, as well as the success of your business or organization. And in the current leadership environment, it is a foundational quality required to move to the next level. In my October LinkedIn article, I explore the following areas of executive presence:

1. What is executive presence?
2. Why executive presence is important
3. Executive Presence Gender & Racial Biases
4. How to Cultivate Executive Presence

“Executive Presence” Defined

Let’s start our exploration of this topic by first defining the term “executive presence.” So, what exactly is executive presence, and why as a leader do you want to embody it? What does the term mean to you? How would you define it? For me, “executive presence” is the ability to inspire confidence in others, by standing in one’s own personal power in a way that is both emotionally intelligent and worthy of trust, providing the solid foundation for communicating and engaging others to follow a clear vision. It is a skill not a trait, so it can be learned. According to Strategy People Culture’s article ‘What Is an Executive Presence – and How Do You Create It,’ “The term first entered the mainstream business lexicon in 2014 following the release of?Executive Presence? by Sylvia Ann Hewlett. In the simplest of explanations, executive presence is the ability to act decisively and with dignity while embodying the most quintessential elements of leadership.” You can read the full article by clicking here .

Why Executive Presence is Important

As a leader, your executive presence provides you with access to OPPORTUNITY! Opportunity for growth, a new idea, a challenge, a promotion, a highly-visible project. Whatever the case may be, it opens the door to new opportunities and enticing people to follow you through that door. According to the Forbes article, ‘Executive Presence: What Is It, Why You Need It And How To Get It,’ “The opportunities you gain access to depend on the confidence you’ve inspired in the decision makers. And, the more significant the opportunity, the more important executive presence becomes.” You can read the full article here .

One of the most powerful effects of this nuanced skills is that your presence can still be felt even when you’re not in the room. Remember this as you lead! Co-founder and CEO of?Ellevest , Sallie Krawcheck, who is by the way a brilliant and inspiring leader and influencer, wrote in her book, Own It: The Power of Women at Work , “most of the important career decisions are made when you are not in the room.” This notion further echoes the importance of embodying and exuding executive presence.

Executive Presence Gender & Racial Biases

The ideals of diversity and inclusion are more top of mind at organizations these days than at any other time in recent history. However, we all still suffer from the negative ripple effects of on-going widespread and unchecked unconscious bias, discrimination, harassment and stereotypes against women and people of color. And heads up: in my view this is especially at play when it comes to the notion of executive presence. By “executive presence”, do we subconsciously mean we expect everyone to show up as a tall, strong white male leader with deep, resonant voice? “No, no, no,” you might say, but I encourage you to look inside at the image that pops into your mind when you think or see the words executive presence. As leaders, it is our duty to create a safe working environment where every employee feels accepted and valued for their uniqueness. We need to be aware of our own unconscious bias that may exist. Consider the following statistics cited in Chief’s article, ‘Stop Using ‘Executive Presence’ as a Reason to Not Promote Women,’ by the?Gartner 2021 Leadership Progression and Diversity Survey. You can read the full article here .

Women comprise 56% of front-line employees but only 29% of the C-Suite.

Black and Indigenous people and other people of color make up 31% of front-line workers, but only 17% of the C-Suite.

These statistics are staggering, and highlight the need to shift to a new workplace paradigm that is customized to each individual employee. According to the same Forbes article mentioned above, “Common biases related to leadership can't be ignored when talking about executive presence. The reality is that women are navigating a different landscape than their male counterparts, and therefore need different tools to reach the top. In some ways, we're all working and growing in a slightly unique ecosystem, and this is why customized solutions fare better than one-size-fits-all approaches.” You can read the full article here .

How to Cultivate Executive Presence

As a leader it is crucial to cultivate executive presence within yourself to engage, influence and motivate your employees. You might even consider it the critical conductive material in your own brand. Executive presence is even more critical during challenging times. Employees look to their leaders for confidence, direction and resolve during turbulent times. Remember: this is a skill that can be learned and practiced over time. Check out these seven key steps to build and enhance your own executive presence, or read the full Forbes article here .

1. Have a vision, and articulate it well – One of the most important parts of inspiring confidence is having a compelling vision— a well-conceived notion of what you’re working to accomplish.
2. Understand how others experience you – People with excellent executive presence have a keen understanding of how they’re perceived by others.
3. Build your communication skills – Good leadership is ultimately about communication, and people with great executive presence are excellent communicators.
4. Become an excellent listener – People with great executive presence are exceptional listeners. They engage with their full attention, they ask great questions, and they use listening as a way to engage others and explore important ideas.
5. Cultivate your network and build political savvy – People with exceptional executive presence recognize that organizational politics are neither a good thing nor bad. They understand that companies are composed of complex relationships?and that there will sometimes be a?diversity of opinions and competing agendas.
6. Learn to operate effectively under stress – People with good executive presence present themselves as calm, even-keeled, composed, well-prepared and in control at all times. That inspires the confidence that they’re ready to take on even more.
7. Make sure your appearance isn’t a distraction –Visual appearance makes a first impression, and first impressions, whether conscious or subconscious, are powerful. You want to ensure that your first impression inspires confidence.

Now that we have defined executive presence, and determined it is crucial to cultivate, it is your turn as a leader to master this fundamental skill. Practice the art of executive presence by engaging in one or more of the following skills: active listening, exhibit emotional intelligence, exude a quiet confidence, be more self-aware or inspire others through instilling confidence in them. It’s time to stand in your personal power and infuse each thought and word with this magnetism that enhances your brand and improves your ability to engage followers and make a positive impact. A final thought…find a role model and study their characteristics, habits and strengths. Tony Robbins said, “If you want to be successful, find someone who has achieved the results you want and copy what they do, and you’ll achieve the same results.” Remember executive presence is ultimately about bringing out YOUR best and most authentic SELF.

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Erin Owen, MBA, PCC, JCDC/JCTC, CPQC (she/her/hers)

Executive and Leadership Coach

Website:?https://erinowen.com

LinkedIn:?https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/erinowen/