Executive presence By: A. V. Vedpuriswar November 22, 2018

What is executive presence ? Executive presence refers to the ability to make an impact on a group quickly. Think of people who make a polished entrance into a meeting room, get to know people quickly, warmly shake hands and forge personal connections spontaneously. When such people speak, others listen. Their voice is full of conviction instead of equivocation. They inspire loyalty and convey a high degree of warmth and authenticity. They speak with a level of personal engagement and clarity of thought that make it clear they are different from others.

The personal dimensions of executive presence Passion: Conveying our motivation, drive, and engagement so that others are convinced of our commitment to what we are saying and doing. Poise: Displaying a look of sophistication and cool that conveys clearly we are comfortable in our skin. Self Confidence: Having an air of optimism and assurance that leaves others in little doubt that we can initiate and lead.

The communications dimensions of executive presence Candor: Being truthful and honest, with a willingness to accept and engage the world as it is, not as we would like it to be. Clarity: Being able to create and tell our story in an intuitively clear and compelling way. Openness: Being willing to consider other points of view without prejudging them.

The relational dimensions of executive presence Thoughtfulness: Being able to convey an interest in other people and the relationship with them. Sincerity: Believing in and meaning what we say. Warmth: Being accessible to others, physically and emotionally.

10 Aspects of Executive Presence (1) Authenticity. Open, straightforward, comfortable with ourselves;  no backbiting or sugarcoating.  Passion. Loving and feeling strongly about what we do and how we do it. Clarity. Communicating thoughts, feelings, and insights with clarity and simplicity.  Intelligence. Understanding and grasping the essence of the points and responding quickly. Insight. Being able to understand complex factors and assimilate reams of data to draw rare conclusions.

10 Aspects of Executive Presence (2) Determination. Driven and full of purpose, determined to achieve and succeed. Confidence. Not overconfident, but with enough self-doubt to be objective. Humility. Willing to admit mistakes and accept, that others may know more. Courage. Ready to take risks and take a position against considerable odds. Humor. Able to laugh at ourselves and make light of some complex situations

Creating a More Powerful Executive Presence We must get two things right. We must develop the communication skills that project executive presence. At the same time, we must remain genuine and sincere. Getting both of them right, leads to an authentic executive presence.

Balancing impression management with authenticity Expressing ourselves in the appropriate way is nothing but impression management. Impression management determines how we come across to others and engage with them. But trying to make false messages appear sincere, or projecting qualities that aren’t there will not work. Real executive presence is established over time through practising behavior that creates a picture of who we are in the minds of others.

Five steps 1. Using body language and visual image to convey confidence Stand erect Walk confidently in an unhurried way Use steady eye contact Shake hands firmly. Lean forward and be engaged in meetings. Don't get distracted by the Blackberry Pay attention to dress and grooming

Voice modulation 2. Developing an authoritative voice Speak with energy Modulate the voice Avoid irritating mannerisms Slow down speaking rate. Pause confidently when needed to emphasise a point and retain the attention of the audience.

Sound confident, keep it simple 3. Avoiding tentative language such as "I think ... "; "I'm not sure ... " 4. Keeping the message simple and clear Stick to the main theme, don’t digress Think first, then talk. Don't share your internal debate with others Talk big picture, not details

Connecting with others Become aware of others by observing and responding to their body language Listen more, talk less. Value the opinion of others Take advantage of "hallway conversations" to connect informally before formal presentations

Thank you