LOOK SHARP - Up Your Executive Presence

Don't kid yourself, there is a big difference between managers and executives. The roles are poles apart! To be elevated into the executive space is a creation - a creation by you. What you do and don't do will assure you a place on the executive team. And it is not necessarily all about skills development. Have you not been in a situation where someone whom you thought stupid and incompetent gets promoted over your head? Read on.

Nobody comes to fetch an executive - executives fetch themselves, and they do this by stepping up and claiming their space. 

So here are 10 distinct pointers to consider when you assess yourself as an executive: 

1. Do not align yourself with your staff. You need to be sufficiently separated so that you look like you are in charge of your space - dump familiarity! Your open-door policy does not mean that they can barge in whenever they like. Set some boundaries. 
2. Position yourself closer to your boss. The only way to become an executive is to work closely with another executive - your boss is all you have. Become her/his second-in-charge. This is about being consciously aware of which side of the fence you are playing on.
3. Always be thinking in terms of value-add. KPI's are usually the measure but value-add is the real decider. 
4. Avoid conflict at all costs. It wastes time and costs energy. Get creative about getting what you want. If you feel yourself getting emotional, disengage. You give your power away by being confrontational.
5. Arrive with answers, not questions. Think things through before you wander into your boss's office with queries. Make like you know what you're doing and not be continuously asking questions. People who do this are regarded as high maintenance. They will not be considered executive material. 
6. Claim your space at meetings. If it's your meeting, sit in the 'power position' (the spot that your boss sits in her/his meetings) even though your boss is present. You might ask if he/she wants to sit there, but usually, they will allow you that honour because it is basic corporate etiquette.
7. Check everything carefully before giving it to your boss. Mistakes are never appreciated! 
8. Never miss a deadline. If issues develop that prevent you from delivering on time, then re-negotiate the deadline. Don't arrive at the last minute and say you have not done the assignment. 
9. Never ask for an increase unless you can support it with some value-add calculation. If you are not adding value, you will be turned down. Using such excuses as being paid under the market or that you deserve more will compromise your advancement. It shows immaturity!
10. Dress for the occasion. This includes your computer bag, pen, and notebook. Don't arrive with a chewed-up pen and a dog-eared pad or (Woolworth's shoes that shine beautifully but look like your grandfather wore them most of his life!). Be sure you look the part. And leave your backpack at home!

One of the best ways to start this journey is to consistently ensure that you don't look like a manager. Executives brand themselves. They dress a certain way, they speak a certain way and they behave in a certain way. If you start looking for it you will see the distinction between managers and executives. When you begin to see it you will know what you need to do!