Executive Presence - The X factor that makes all the difference

Heena Maneckji
Sep 9, 2018 · 4 min read

Most of us have heard the term executive presence somewhere or the other and many of us have a conceptual grasp on the topic, but what does it look like in action? Well, let us consider a scenario we must have observed in meetings or during discussions. One of the participants seems to be exhibiting confidence, taking charge and demonstrating exceptional clarity of thought. The individual seems to be engaging everybody and standing out from the crowd. This is one of many aspect of executive presence in action!

The question we need to ask ourselves is what made the person stand out? Precisely what did they say or do to be so distinctive? To put it simply, qualities like a confident personality, charming mannerisms and leadership inclination make a person’s executive presence speak for itself. In fact, executive presence is the packaged personality that the world associates with a leader.

Today more than ever, honing your executive presence skills is as important as your subject matter expertise. Right from how you enter the room to how you talk, your body language, your command on various topics and your overall personality are all deciding factors that make or break your personal brand. The ability to take charge, make decisions, work as a team, showcase confidence and to listen with empathy can all make for an impactful executive presence. These qualities, along with your knowledge base will make your personal brand stand out in an organisation.

Many young adults these days wonder as to where they should begin with when it comes to working on their executive presence. Well, in order to make the right moves for an impactful executive presence, you need to learn certain specific leadership skills and imbibe them into your personality. Read on to know more:

  1. More Self-aware, Less Self-conscious: In an image-savvy world, it is inevitable to be conscious of one’s looks and personality. But by learning to recognise your physical and emotional attributes positively, you will be able to lay a solid foundation of self-awareness for yourself. This will in turn, reflect in your executive presence as you become more and more aware of yourself and hence can prepare yourself better for various scenarios at the workplace.
  2. Be Authentic to Build Trust: Your authenticity decides whether people trust your personal brand or not! Unless you showcase your true, authentic self to the world, your executive presence will not be deep rooted in people’s minds. Be real, be transparent about your motives and aspirations, and most importantly, do not be afraid of making mistakes! That is what makes us human and that is what will make you relatable.
  3. What Meets the Eyes: There is no denying the fact that your attire and overall mannerisms decide your first impression. So, when you enter a room, your presence should create positivity. Wearing business-appropriate clothes, being confident in your skin, speaking politely and making eye contact while talking to others are some of the most underrated, yet highly imperative aspects of starting on a good note.
  4. Listen to Learn, Talk to Make a Point: Assertiveness and sensitivity go hand-in-hand. At corporates, an executive is expected to take charge of situations while working with a team and keeping them motivated. To be able to do so, you will need to be able to speak your mind, make the right statements and at the same time, empathetically listen to what others have to say. By balancing both listening and speaking skills, you can project yourself as a wholesome communicator, ready to take on leadership roles.
  5. Let Your Knowledge Speak Up: Your knowledge and subject matter expertise will add substance and gravitas to your overall personality. Apart from the academic knowledge that you have, it is essential to stay up-to-date with the latest happenings within your field of interest, so that you can be part of any conversation with a purpose. While your soft skills will give you an edge in discussions, it is your knowledge that will prevent your talks from being ‘empty’. Developing reading habits from a young age is very important to enhance your grasp on various subjects.
  6. Build Relationships, Not Just Connections: Today, everybody is virtually connected, but there is a lack of reality in relationships. Businesses are not just built by connecting with people, but by being in genuine conversation with them. A person in an executive position can form a lasting relationship with peers and subordinates by reaching out to them proactively, being approachable and constructively working with them.
  7. Let Your Absence Remind of Your Presence: As poetic as this crucial last key factor may sound, it is probably the most effective way to make sure your executive presence is ‘wanted’ by your team and organisation. Your behaviour, charm and ability to positively lead should be so effective that when you are not around, your impact would be missed. In fact, many organisations are known to retain young executives who show promising leadership qualities and thus, are not easy to replace.

One of the most important things to remember is that executive presence is not about portraying something that you are not. On the contrary, it is the essence of your personality packaged and showcased to make a lasting impression. Like any learned behaviour, executive presence is best acquired at a young age. You can get coached with the right methods and tools to build your personal brand. Young executives are leaders of the future and one should invest in them today, to see a positive impact tomorrow!

To know more about the tools and techniques that would help you in building and honing your executive presence, visit www.thoughtcaststudio.com

ThoughtCast

We are a group of life skills empowerment agents, transforming the impact of essential life skills in the young generation by helping them master their thoughts.

Heena Maneckji

Written by

MD & CEO - ThoughtCast

ThoughtCast

We are a group of life skills empowerment agents, transforming the impact of essential life skills in the young generation by helping them master their thoughts.

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