Jon Michail is Founder & Group CEO of Image Group International & best-selling author of Life Branding. Follow him on LinkedIn & Twitter.
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In the modern business environment, having an executive presence is not merely a bonus requirement for leaders. Executive presence plays an important role in instilling confidence, earning respect and assisting organizations toward success. As a top executive or leader today, you’ll be faced with unique challenges and obstacles where possessing an executive presence will make all the difference. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that to be considered for senior roles, the existence or lack of executive presence is a major deciding factor.
However, there’s been a massive shift in what executive presence means today and what it used to mean back in the day. This is why discussing and understanding the meaning and significance of executive presence in this modern time is important.
The Evolution Of Executive Presence
Executive presence has always been regarded as an important attribute. Still, in the past, it was mostly about dressing and looking superior, radiating confidence and giving firm handshakes. This is no longer the case today; having an executive presence now encompasses a whole lot more, especially as the workplace and professional culture evolve.
Coqual conducted research that sheds more light on this new reality. According to this research, aside from having the traditional strong physical presence, executive presence is a combination of different attributes, which include gravitas and exceptional communication skills. Remarkably, it should be noted that the most significant factor of all is no longer the commanding physical presence, but gravitas, which was found to have a 67% influence in determining how effective people perceive a leader to be.
The Impact And Elements Of Executive Presence
Just from the term “executive presence," it’s easy to see that any leader with this trait will stand out from other leaders. Possessing this attribute goes beyond the skills or professional experience one has as a leader. It’s all about sending the right signals, and more often than not, that can determine how successful a person becomes in their professional career.
The impact of executive presence is also recognized by professionals, as evidenced in a Gartner CIO survey, where it was ranked as the second most important trait for leaders who make a difference. It’s already clear that having an executive presence is nonnegotiable if leaders want to go far professionally, but what exactly are the traits to nurture? And more importantly, why are these traits crucial?
Gravitas As The Core
As already mentioned, gravitas is the most important attribute for anyone who can be said to possess executive presence. Gravitas simply means exuding confidence, self-assurance and decisiveness when under pressure. With this trait, such leaders are often found to be reliable and competent in difficult times.
Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, showed his understanding of this when he was quoted saying, “If you're not stubborn, you'll give up on experiments too soon. And if you're not flexible, you'll pound your head against the wall, and you won't see a different solution to a problem you're trying to solve." This quote encapsulates the importance of confidence and resilience to stick to a vision as well as the emotional intelligence to be flexible, which are the essence of gravitas. Striking a balance here can very well make all the difference if leaders are to achieve success and remain relevant in a constantly changing professional environment.
Communication: Taking Command And Articulating Vision
Another important attribute to cultivate is the ability to communicate efficiently. Communication does not stop at the verbal aspect; it includes non-verbal aspects like the ability to read an audience and take control. Without communication, it’s almost impossible for anyone else to genuinely buy into your vision, not to mention work toward the end goal.
A brilliant example of someone who understands the power of genuine communication is Oprah Winfrey. She understands that a leader can only build relationships and motivate their team with the right kind of communication. In Oprah’s own words, “Great communication begins with connection. What makes us different from one another is so much less important than what makes us alike—we all long for acceptance and significance. When we recognize those needs in ourselves, we can better understand them in others, and that's when we can set aside our judgments and just hear."
Blending Appearance With Values
Your image influences first impressions, and first impressions matter a lot more than many people think. If image did not matter, the president of the United States would present onstage in shorts and T-shirts, looking very relaxed but lacking gravitas. The way you appear as a leader still does and always will have a significant impact. In fact, this importance is especially pronounced if you’re yet to make a name for yourself or make an impact as a leader.
Your appearance should be in line with the personal and organizational values you wish to portray. When you need to meet stakeholders, a good "presentation" is important and should be in line with or exceed their expectations. Authentic presence is not about copying colleagues, it’s about presenting "brand you"—a comfortable, confident and impactful leader. Remember, your look "speaks" before you open your mouth.
Cultivating Executive Presence In The Digital Age
As we live in a digitally driven society, technology is a major part of our existence, influencing our interactions with others. Thus, the savvy leader also understands the importance of leveraging social media to augment their visibility while engaging stakeholders. However, to be successful, it should be done with authenticity, so your values and beliefs are accurately reflected in your online presence. When executed correctly, not only can leaders significantly improve their executive presence, but they can also build trust, loyalty and meaningful relationships with their audience.
Conclusion
Consider executive presence as the “magnetic” cover of a book. A magnetic presence opens doors like nothing else, and a smart leader knows that it takes a “total package” to succeed!
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