We’ve spent quite a bit of time and blog space lately considering compassion, confidence, and competence as leadership skills. We’ve also bounced back and forth between self-actualization and self-reliance and their importance to anyone in a leadership role. What happens though, when these various leadership characteristics merge? Then, you get a very nice dose of executive presence; that is, a person with the bearing, dignity, and strength of a true leader.

This though, begs the question of whether executive presence is real – or merely perception. In other words, if people see you as a leader then you are one but, do you agree? Do you really have what it takes? And, what does it take to show leadership and executive presence?

Defining Executive Presence in Women & Men

While this section header may imply that there is a difference between this leadership trait in women and men, that is not the case. Although, there is often a perception that there is, and women in leadership roles often do have challenges in overcoming this sense; that they must somehow be “more present” as a leader.

Let’s knock that idea back right here, shall we?

According to an article at the online education site Study.com, “executive presence is a persona that lets everyone around the person know that he or she is in charge, confident and capable of leading others.” However, executive presence is not about putting on a mask of “know it all” superhero. It is about staying genuinely connected to your values, being open, authentic, accessible, and aware. That is, they are mindful of staying present without abusing an “I’m in charge” mentality.

Stated simply, that definition does not change based on gender. While it may seem more common to perceive in some men (due to gender and cultural biases and the fact that women are underrepresented in leadership in most parts of the world), women clearly possess “the ability to give off a general sense of poise, confidence, decisiveness, and dignity”. These women are also capable of working under pressure, handling stress, and are fully able to communicate clearly and effectively.

These are all traits of one who possess the executive presence needed to lead; to capture the attention of an audience and display confidence and composure in virtually any situation.

Traits of Leadership and Executive Presence

Further clarity on the meaning and characteristics that define executive presence is found in an illuminating article at Business Insider online. Author Jun Medalla, co-founder of Exec-Comm, offers his list of the 7 Traits Of Executive Presence, The Key To Winning People Over.

Yet even this list is incomplete. What about the powerful influence that emotional intelligence has on the development of executive presence? This is true because there is a strong emotional component to the persona of a leader that simply can’t be denied.So, in combination with EI, the traits of executive presence are:

• Emotional agility: Emotional self-awareness and understanding others are essential components of executive presence. The ability to be aware of your emotions and not being carried away by them, as well as recognize emotion in others and manage your response to them, is key.
• Connection: It’s critical to engage others when communicating and make them feel comfortable by creating a safe emotional space. The best way to connect is to understand your communication style challenges, how to overcome them, and how to read and adapt to the style of others.
• Charisma: People who embody executive presence have the ability to draw others to them. How? Let’s demystify charisma: it is simply achieved through strong listening skills and an ability to stay “in the moment”. As a result, the people with whom you are communicating know that you are solely focused on them, and not distracted by the many other things you could be doing at that moment. They matter to you.
• Self-expression: One key aspect of executive presence is to communicate confidence both in what you say and how you say it. Body language is important: good posture and eye focus is critical. Ensure you only speak when making eye contact and manage your eye focus appropriately when communicating with more than one person — one thought per person. Ensure your facial expression matches your message and that your voice has good pitch, volume, and pace. Choose your wardrobe and accessories appropriate to time and place, and let them reflect your personality as well.
• Credibility: Not only is your content important, but the language you choose to deliver it will impact your credibility. Filler language such as “um,” “uh,” and “so” immediately detract from presence. As do minimizers like “just,” “sort of,” and “this may not be a good idea but…” When someone with strong presence speaks, others take note, and there is no doubt of the conviction behind their words.
• Clarity: For you to exude presence, the ability to clearly communicate is fundamental. If your point is unclear, any hope of commanding attention is lost. Ask yourself, “What is my message in 10 words or fewer?” If you can’t articulate it to yourself you are not ready to communicate it to others. In this case, slow down, and take time to create clarity for yourself prior to expressing your thoughts to others.
• Conciseness: Being verbose kills presence. Just as it is critical to know what you want to communicate, you must be able to do it concisely. Once you’ve delivered your message and validated it briefly, revert to others by asking, “What else can I share with you about this idea?” This way you stay on point and only expand on a topic with the content that your listener needs. Asking powerful questions is another tool that you can use to enhance your leadership presence.

The good news is… emotional intelligence leads to strong executive presence, which can be developed over time. You don’t have to be “born” with it. Like any leadership characteristic, it is a skill that can be learned, practiced, and cultivated as an integral part of your skill set.

Are you ready to elevate your executive presence? Click here to find out how and to schedule your free call.