Cultivating Executive Presence

0:00foreign0:07[Music]0:17to the your next Move podcast today we0:20are talking about executive presence0:22this has been a topic I've wanted to0:25create content around for a little while0:26now because when I'm working with a0:28mid-career professionals and my0:30mid-career generally I'm talking about0:31folks who they are in a more senior0:34level role no longer entry level maybe0:37they're managing one two people or0:39they're on track two very soon and0:41they're looking to move into higher0:43level true more senior level stakeholder0:46roles executive presence is a part of0:48the feedback they receive they're0:49lacking executive presence but0:52what is executive presence how do you0:54cultivate it what is it comprised of0:56that is what we're going to talk about0:57today an executive presence isn't1:00necessarily something that you may be1:02able to clearly articulate or see it's1:05something that many people say that you1:07embody we all know it when we see it and1:10it's really the key to strengthening1:12your brand as a leader in the workplace1:13as Sylvia Ann Hewlett says in her book1:16Fast Track career how you act speak and1:19look count for a lot when you're1:21determining your leadership presence so1:24even though it may seem elusive today1:26I'm going to break down the three1:27components to help you understand and1:30with a little bit of practice hopefully1:31embody this so1:33part one is gravitas now this is how you1:37act gravitas is defined as dignity and1:41seriousness that is outwardly expressed1:43and demonstrated through action so note1:46here again when we say something's1:47demonstrated through action you1:50literally have to show it you can't1:51speak about it it's just how you walk1:53into a room the building blocks of this1:56are confidence Integrity emotional1:59intelligence reputation decisiveness2:01having a vision and these are all tested2:04Under Fire2:06how you respond to pressure how much2:09resilience you can demonstrate will2:10reflect how much gravitas you hold in2:13any situation and if we pivot for a2:15second I think it's important to talk2:17about resilience there are three2:19categories to mention here because when2:21we talk about resilience as emotional2:23it's mental and it's physical so2:26emotional resilience is when you're2:28faced with the challenge are you anxious2:30or are you calm are you frustrated are2:33you panicking or are you decisive when2:35you're positioning yourself as a leader2:37in an organization that means that2:39others are coming to you for the advice2:41coming to you for a decision coming to2:44buy into your vision when you're faced2:46with pressure2:47you can't be the one who's like oh my2:49gosh I don't know what to do this is2:50crazy I'm so anxious you have to have a2:53bit I don't even want to say stoicism2:55but you have to have2:57a bit of finesse with how you're3:00processing information and that's how3:02you're showing your emotional EQ through3:05your resilience mental resilience is are3:08you able to continue to be rational when3:11faced with great challenges and pressure3:13are you able to take a step back and3:15assess the situation before making an3:18informed decision versus just quickly3:21jumping to something that may or may not3:23be the best move for you in that moment3:26and last but not least is physical3:28resilience so are your thoughts our3:31thoughts can often translate into our3:34body language so how are you carrying3:36yourself during times of distress what3:39is your posture like your breathing do3:41you have nervous tics in the moment this3:44morning when I was getting my makeup3:45done I was talking about how with my3:47makeup artist I get my makeup done when3:49I have big engagements so generally I'm3:52under a lot of pressure so I generally3:54like to bring someone in to do my makeup3:56who has a very calm being and present I4:00can't have anyone who's too much all4:01over the place because I'm preparing for4:03a busy day4:05and but she noticed one time she's like4:07you know what one time I was doing an4:08event she said my leg was shaking the4:10entire time she was doing my makeup4:12because I was so nervous4:14at that time I don't want to say that I4:15was lacking resilience so I was still4:17doing it but I was showing my heart on4:20my sleeve and it made her nervous4:22because I was nervous as a leader many4:24times we have to decide where we are4:27going to show those parts of ourselves4:29if I was walking into a big stakeholder4:32presentation I would not want someone to4:33see me shaking in my boots I need them4:36to see me when I am calm what I am4:38defined when I am ready when I go into4:41interview situations I generally take a4:43moment in the bathroom and get myself4:45together even as I'm recording this4:47podcast today between each episode when4:49I change my outfits I have a moment in4:51my room where I'm like okay4:53we are ready and then I come back out4:55and deliver whatever content that we're4:57doing so when you're thinking about4:59resilience and you're talking about your5:00gravitas which is how people feel when5:03you're walking into any situation think5:05about how you can prepare yourself what5:07do you need to show up best sometimes5:10that can mean that if you get really bad5:12news and someone is looking for you to5:14give an informed decision right away5:16it's asking do you mind if I take a5:18minute and get back to you at the end of5:19the day5:20do you mind scheduling a meeting5:21tomorrow morning we can talk about this5:23so you can take the night you can5:25collect your thoughts collect your ideas5:27collect yourself before coming back in5:30so you're showing the best version of5:32yourself at all times5:34other elements here before we move on to5:36communication are about sharing your5:39vision that is a really big piece when5:41we're talking about executive presence5:44is what is your vision how are you able5:46to share an an achievable future and5:50someone with gravitas has a deep belief5:52in these things deep belief in their5:54vision and what it stands for5:57so quick ways to also practice your5:59gravitas would be to be decisive6:01increase your self-awareness6:03share your vision6:05move with integrity6:07seek support when you need it and6:09demonstrate resilience when you're6:10tested6:12so next let's go to communication this6:16is how you speak as James Holmes would6:19say the art of communication is the6:22language of leadership6:24the art of communication is the language6:27of leadership how we communicate6:31does so much especially in the workplace6:34and honestly in any relationship knowing6:37how to communicate no means that you6:40know how to communicate with confidence6:41and Authority you want your team to6:44understand and respect what you are6:46saying it also means you're earning the6:49trust of your Audience by speaking with6:51Integrity when you stick to your words6:53your team will stick to you as a leader6:56what's important here is that you are6:59when they say walk in the walk talk in7:00the talk that's really what we're7:02talking about here connecting with your7:04audience that you have their attention7:05by being rational you're presenting hard7:08facts compelling data that support your7:10narrative you're evoking Emotion by7:12telling stories sharing your values so7:14your audience can relate with you and7:16identify with you one of the pieces of7:19feedback that I give Professionals in7:20the workplace is when we're talking7:22about communication we can't just come7:24from the perspective of you know what7:26just give me the chance and I'll be able7:27to execute really really well I promise7:29I'll be able to do it in the early7:32stages of your career or when you're7:34embarking upon anything new it is7:36crucial that you are able to communicate7:38what you are able to do when you're able7:41to communicate what you're able to do7:43then you're able to build trust once7:46trust is given you're able to execute7:49without having to explain yourself we7:51just had this conversation the other day7:53with someone from my team he is a7:55amazing videographer currently recording7:58this right now and we know his work8:01quality nobody asked him for anything I8:03just say how much how much do I pay you8:05how much send an invoice there's no8:07description on anything but it's because8:09he's built so much trust so much8:13Excellence has so many receipts of what8:16his work looks like8:18I don't need him to communicate it8:20because I can see it but that takes8:22years of building and many times as8:24professionals we don't want to take the8:26time to build the receipts we want to8:29get the opportunity to get the first8:31receipt but what you have to do is be8:33able to communicate what you want to do8:36communicate your vision communicate your8:38level of Excellence so then you can have8:41the opportunity to act so last but not8:43least is appearance when we're talking8:46about executive presence you see I got8:47my feathers on today if you're watching8:49on YouTube I love this this Blazer8:52appearance we all say you know you8:54shouldn't judge a book by its cover8:57however at the same exact time first9:02impressions count they always have9:06always will and it's always harder to9:10re-navigate a situation and try and9:13change your first impression with9:15subsequent interactions with someone and9:18when you're building in a leadership9:20role building your own brand as a leader9:22you need to walk the walk talk the talk9:24and dress like it you need to embody9:26your brand with how you act speak and9:30look so how do you do that9:32and this means making sure you're9:34dressing for the venue that you are in9:36and the people that you're going to meet9:38people say that everything is in the9:41details and you have to pay attention9:42notice the unstated dress codes leaders9:46know how to use dress to help build9:48connections because we all know that a9:51parents can help you find common ground9:53so example for me as a speaker I've9:56worked in several different work9:58environments I worked in higher10:00education that was very casual I worked10:02in higher education that had a corporate10:04Flair I've also worked in corporate10:06Financial Services every place you go10:09even if we look at corporate Financial10:11Services there are so many institutions10:13and every place has its own Pizzazz its10:17own way of doing things and when I'm a10:19speaker I think about well what do the10:21people dress like who work in this10:22organization so what I would wear at a10:25large Fortune 100 company in Financial10:28Service would probably be different than10:30what I'd wear if I was speaking at a10:31tech company that may maybe more laid10:33back10:34and you want to make sure that you are10:37taking care of yourself in terms of10:39appearance and now not of course we want10:41to dress and look and feel our best we10:43have episodes this season where we talk10:44a lot about authenticity so if you're10:46not someone who wears six inch heels to10:48work I know I don't then I'm gonna rock10:50some flats or I may have a really fun10:52pair of sneakers on so be authentic to10:55yourself while also understanding the10:57cultural norms but I also want to say10:59when we think about appearance also11:02think about how you're taking care of11:04yourself do you have the energy to11:06successfully take on the challenges that11:09you are going to be up against every11:10single day what is it that you need to11:13feed yourself so that also means looking11:16alive alert awake enthusiastic sometimes11:18I'm not saying you got to walk in and be11:20bright-eyed and bushy-tailed every11:21single day but you also don't want11:23people looking up to you saying like11:24dang you tired when's the last time you11:27got a good night's rest11:28that's also a part of the leadership11:30look and feel11:33and helps people buy into the entire11:35Vision remember in the workplace you are11:40always on a stage people are always11:42watching trying to see how you dress how11:45you act how you're taking in different11:47situations what did your resilience like11:49so be aware of your body language be11:51aware of the brand that you're11:53presenting is the brand that you are11:55presenting out to the world congruent11:58with who and where you are and most12:00importantly where you want to be when I12:03talk about making moves in the workplace12:04I always teach people what is the gap12:06between where you are and where you are12:09not so if you want to be over here12:11what is the difference are you showing12:14up as someone who wants to be here or12:17are you showing up as Where You Are12:19keep that in mind as you're thinking12:21about your indicative presence so12:23remember the intention behind all three12:26components is to ultimately connect with12:29the people you are leading12:31remember that you're practicing and you12:33have to hone in on your gravitas your12:36communication and your appearance this12:37is not something that you are going to12:39get overnight honestly it's something I12:41still work on all the time when I think12:43about my own gravitas how I'm connecting12:45with people how I'm perceived is it the12:47brand that I'd like to build you'll see12:49I experiment with dress all the time12:51every season of this podcast I'm12:53experimenting with my appearance to see12:55what feels good am I connecting with my12:57audience in a certain way do things like12:59that matter is how I communicate and13:02teach you how is that working is it13:04working no then we need to change it and13:06shift how I connect and how I13:08communicate whatever it is that I'm13:10working on Executive presence is not13:12something you're born with but something13:14that you cultivate you must continually13:17develop it in order to fully step into13:20your leadership role in the workplace13:22so with that thank you so much for13:25listening to this episode on Executive13:26presence I know it's something that I13:28probably should have done in season two13:29of the podcast but we're here now if you13:32have more questions please let me know13:34may your next move be your very best13:36move in the workplace13:38[Music]

Cultivating Executive Presence

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