Executive Presence Summary- Display Your Best Professional Self
What Is Executive Presence?
Executive presence is the ability to project confidence, authority and competence in order to inspire trust and respect from others. This includes having a strong physical presence, being articulate and well-spoken, and exhibiting positive body language.
What Are the Four Factors of Executive Presence?
Confidence is about having a belief in oneself and one's abilities. It is the foundation of executive presence and enables one to project authority and competence.
Composure is the ability to stay calm and collected under pressure. This includes maintaining a positive attitude and being able to handle challenging situations with grace.
Charisma is the ability to connect with others and build relationships. It is about being likable and approachable, and having the ability to inspire others.
Communication is the ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and non-verbally. This includes being a good listener, as well as being clear and concise when speaking.
Combining each of the four factors mentioned above creates executive presence.
“It is executive presence and no man or woman attains a top job, lands an extraordinary deal, or develops a significant following without this heady combination of confidence, poise, and authenticity that convinces the rest of us we’re in the presence of someone who’s the real deal.”
How Do You Convey Executive Presence?
There are several ways to convey executive presence some of which include:
1. Maintaining good posture and eye contact
This is important because it shows that you are confident and comfortable in your own skin. It also makes you appear more approachable and trustworthy.
2. Speaking with clarity and confidence
This means being able to articulate your thoughts clearly and concisely. It also involves speaking with conviction and projecting a strong voice.
3. Dressing the part
The way you dress plays a big role in how others perceive you. It is important to dress in a way that conveys authority and professionalism.
4. Exhibiting positive body language
Body language is nonverbal communication that can speak volumes about how you are feeling. Positive body language includes things like smiling, maintaining eye contact, and having an open and relaxed posture.
5. Staying calm and collected under pressure
This is important because it shows that you can handle challenging situations with grace. It also helps to build trust and respect from others.
6. Being likeable and approachable
This involves being friendly and easy to talk to. It also means having the ability to connect with others and build relationships.
7. Being a good listener
This involves being attentive and respectful when others are speaking. It also means being able to provide feedback that is both helpful and constructive.
Benefits of Having an Executive Presence
There are many benefits to having an executive presence, both in the workplace and in networking.
Some of the benefits of having an executive presence in the workplace include:
1. Increased respect from colleagues and superiors: When you have an executive presence, others will view you as being competent and trustworthy. This can lead to increased respect from those around you.
2. Greater opportunities for advancement: Those with an executive presence are more likely to be considered for leadership positions. This is because they are seen as being capable and confident in their abilities.
3. A stronger influence on decision making: When you have an executive presence, your opinion carries more weight. This is because others view you as being an expert in your field.
Some of the benefits of having an executive presence when networking include:
1. The ability to inspire trust and confidence in others: When you have an executive presence, people are more likely to trust and have confidence in you. This can lead to better networking relationships.
2. The ability to make a strong first impression: First impressions are important, and having an executive presence can help you make a strong one. This can lead to better networking opportunities.
3. The ability to build relationships: Those with an executive presence are more likely to be able to build strong relationships. This is because they are seen as being likable and approachable.
4. Greater opportunities for networking and business deals: When you have an executive presence, you are more likely to be able to land networking and business deals. This is because people are more likely to want to work with you.
If you are looking to learn more on the topic of networking, check out my blog post on the topic here.
How Executive Presence Relates to Leadership
Executive presence is often seen as being synonymous with leadership. This is because those with an executive presence are often seen as being confident and capable of leading others.
However, it is important to note that there is a difference between the two. Leadership involves inspiring and motivating others to achieve a common goal, whereas executive presence is more about conveying confidence and authority.
While both are important, they are not the same. Executive presence is one of the many factors that contribute to effective leadership.
Examples of Leadership Presence vs. Executive Presence
Leadership Presence:
Lead - develop a clear and inspiring vision for the future that others can rally behind.
Motivate - motivate and inspire others to achieve common goals.
Uplift - encourage creativity and innovation.
Support - provide direction and guidance.
Role model - set an example for others to follow.
Executive Presence:
Conveying confidence and authority - being competent and trustworthy.
Proclaiming your place - making a strong first impression.
Assurance & Authority - being decisive and able to take charge.
Composure - remaining calm and collected under pressure.
Next time you are at the office or on a Zoom call, notice who conveys executive presence. What stands out to you? Which of the above can you identify this person leaning into that are supporting their executive presence? How might you begin to emulate them?
Executive Presence Book
What is the Executive Presence Book? (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
The Executive Presence book by Sylvia Ann Hewlett is a guide that helps leaders develop the skills needed to project confidence, authority and competence. The book covers topics such as how to dress for success, how to communicate effectively, and how to handle challenging situations.
I highly recommend this book if you would like to learn more about executive presence and what it can contribute to your work, your network and ultimately your career.
Check out Sylvia Ann Hewlett’s book here. (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Do you want more personalized help developing your executive presence specifically or your leadership toolkit in general? Don’t hesitate to reach out here.
Interested in Learning More About Executive Presence?
Here are some additional resources on executive presence that might be helpful. Please Google the titles below.
What Is Executive Presence And How Do You Get It? - Forbes
Improve Your Leadership Presence – Harvard Business Review
Deconstructing Executive Presence – Harvard Business Review