Lessons In Exceptional Executive Presence

A few weeks ago, I posted a blog article relaying my 7 top tips on executive presence.

Since I wrote that post the ultimate example of executive presence has been dominating our screens in the form of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.?From standing ovations in the House of Commons, to plaudits from around the world for his conduct & leadership during the war, the example that Zelenskyy is demonstrating is truly exceptional and one we will all be talking about for decades to come.

?What has been clear from everything we’ve seen is that President?Zelenskyy is leading by his values. Demonstrating his courage, his vision and that he puts everyone first, he is leading his country in its darkest hours with a dignity and strength rarely seen by world leaders and we are mesmerised by it.

We know that his background as a performer will have given him an advantage in understanding effective communication. But the leap from entertainer to world leader and thereby becoming the voice of a nation is a huge step for anyone. Being able to lead on a world stage with 24/7 broadcast ability during a war takes nothing short of exceptional?executive presence and there are a few lessons that we can all learn from him.

·??????He leads with values and speaks in terms of we rather than I.

·??????Uses social media effectively to communicate and thinks about how he wants to come across in what he’s wearing, the backgrounds he uses, where he’s sitting, eating with his troops, his clothes, even filming himself with his own camera walking past landmarks after a night of Russian bombardment.

·??????He thinks carefully about the language that he uses. Not just which language he is speaking in but also political and historical references that he uses to enhance his own presence.

So how can we take this example of exceptional leadership presence and relate that to our own businesses and how we lead?

As I described in my previous post, 7 steps to developing your executive presence, your ability to inspire a level of confidence from others is a critical skill.

1) Start with understanding how you’re perceived by others. Don’t be afraid of getting feedback and understanding if you can address anything that might be holding you back. Do you talk too fast, too slow, do you struggle to be clear when delivering key points or messages??

2) Know your pressure triggers. The most effective communicators are calm under pressure and can balance decision-making - think of the tree c’s ‘composed, credible, clarity.’

3) Keep your language simple, remove the detail and focus on the impact, it’s not what you did it’s how it will get their attention.

4) Be succinct and slow down your language. It’s very easy in meetings and interviews to talk too quickly. Take the time to pause and slow down. This also shows a huge level of confidence.

5) Actively listen. If you are an interviewee, then demonstrating greater concentration in what your interviewer is saying and making notes are all exceptional ways of demonstrating active listening. It also shows that?you’re?capable of reading a room, sensing what’s going on and adjusting accordingly.

6) Looking the part. As I’ve already mentioned, this is something that has been talked about across all our news stations and social media. The day that the war broke out in Ukraine, we were seeing President Zelenskyy on our screens in his combat?uniform ready for action working alongside his troops. Whilst that style may not be relevant to the office, bringing a bit of your own identity to your dress and style is important, especially in an interview situation. What CEOs are?looking for in an interview is the real you.

Your facial expressions are as important as being a cultural fit. Don’t be afraid to smile or demonstrate warmth in interviews. Being too serious can be as much of a turn off for interviewers as overdoing the smiling. Match your interviewer’s style.

7) Work with an executive coach. Working with an executive coach can all be hugely valuable when you’re looking for that next level position. In this week’s?leadership effectiveness podcast by sister company NewlandRock, Kate Thomas interviews Shola Kaye a best-selling author and empathetic communication skills expert. Many of the points from this article are debated: how to lead and communicate your values; understanding the importance of how you want to be perceived by others and learning how to influence decision-making by cutting through and?communicating effectively.

To listen to this podcast head over to Spotify, Apple Podcasts or any of the leading streaming platforms or click the link in the comments below.

Image: BBC News