5/14/22, 12:05 AM Developing Executive Presence - Building Belief in Your Leadership

Add this article to My Learning Plan

 11 MIN READ

Developing Executive Presence

Building Belief in Your Leadership
The first time Michael saw his CEO speak at a conference, he was amazed by how "together" she was.
There must have been more than 100 people in the room, yet she appeared calm, confident and in
control.
But there was something else that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. Michael couldn't put his
finger on it, but he knew it was an essential quality in a leader. Whatever it was, it earned her a standing
ovation – and his respect.
It was her "executive presence" that so impressed Michael and the other members of the audience.
While it can appear that successful people are born with a magic touch, executive presence is something
that anyone can learn. In this article, we'll look at how you can develop it yourself, and boost people's
belief in your leadership.

What Is Executive Presence?

According to Sylvia Ann Hewlett, author of "Executive Presence: The Missing Link Between
Merit and Success," executive presence has three elements:

1. Gravitas – how you act.

2. Communication – how you speak.
3. Appearance – how you look.
We'll examine these elements in more detail a little later in this article.
Hewlett believes that the way you act demonstrates your confidence and your ability to communicate
your thoughts and ideas, especially when you're under stress. She says that, nowadays, we value leaders
who appear calm, confident and steady, rather than those who use toughness or charisma  to build
their following.
Executive presence also means being "present"  (being focused on the moment) while remaining aware
of the concerns and issues affecting the people around you. Researchers at the Roffey Park leadership
institute in the U.K. found that being present also helps you to connect with your own sense of personal
power, that is, being comfortable in your own skin so that you can work "with," rather than "over,"
others.
When all these things are in sync, you can create a strong sense of authority and make decisions in a way
that builds trust.

Adapted from Executive Presence, by Sylvia Ann Hewlett. © 2014 by Sylvia Ann Hewlett. Used by permission of
HarperCollins Publishers.

Advantages of Executive Presence

https://www.mindtools.com/community/pages/article/developing-executive-presence.php 1/5
5/14/22, 12:05 AM Developing Executive Presence - Building Belief in Your Leadership

Developing executive presence is more than just a question of winning popularity or power. One of its
main benefits is that it helps you reduce stress . Managers with executive presence, and who focus their
attention on the moment, can cope better with challenges in several ways. The Roffey Park study shows
that they demonstrate:

Clearer thinking and perception.

Greater courage, conviction and sensitivity in handling conflict.
More focus on higher priorities .
More energy and passion.
Calm when dealing with change.
More openness to new opportunities.
Confidence in their own views.

How to Improve Your Executive Presence

As we mentioned earlier, executive presence has three elements – gravitas, communication and
appearance. Here, we explore each of them and suggest ways that you can develop them:

1. Gravitas
There are several key behaviors in gravitas, including showing grace under fire, being decisive, speaking
your truth, using emotional intelligence, and being authentic.
Showing Grace Under Fire. Hewlett says that you demonstrate gravitas in how you handle adversity.
Chances are, you will encounter problems and make mistakes, but you will show executive presence if
you are poised and controlled in a crisis, and admit your errors. You can adapt and bounce back after a
setback if you have the right mindset and attitude. Our article, Developing Resilience , has strategies
to help you do this.
Experience is a great teacher of grace under fire. When you go through a crisis, you learn that you do
have the strength and skills to cope, and that you can control how you respond.
To remain cool and collected when under pressure, you need a degree of self-confidence , and you can
manage stress levels with the help of effective relaxation techniques . It also helps to be well
prepared, and this is where risk analysis  and contingency planning  can help.
Being Decisive. As a manager, you need to be assertive and able to make decisions, but you can
easily fall into the trap of becoming too authoritarian  or even aggressive . If you issue commands
without listening, you won't earn respect. Your team will respect you if you listen, learn, weigh up your
options, and then decide what action to take, if any.
Speaking Your Truth. We all have ideas about how things should be done, but it takes courage to
share your thoughts with others, and stand by your convictions. Giving constructive feedback  can be a
daunting process for both a manager and team member, but it is an important skill to master and, when
done carefully, it can really improve individual performance.
Using Emotional Intelligence. Understanding how your emotions can affect people around you, and
being considerate of other people's needs and feelings, form part of your emotional intelligence , and
having strong "people skills" is an essential element of executive presence.

https://www.mindtools.com/community/pages/article/developing-executive-presence.php 2/5
5/14/22, 12:05 AM Developing Executive Presence - Building Belief in Your Leadership

Researchers from Harvard and Stanford universities studying management changes on an offshore oil
rig found that, in that macho environment, the toughest men were in charge and others were afraid to
ask for help or admit mistakes, for fear of looking weak. The leaders' lack of emotional intelligence had
created a hostile and potentially dangerous environment. But when the organization began to focus on
safety, people found it easier to speak out and accident rates fell by 84 percent.
Being Authentic. Successful leaders earn respect by building connections  with others, and they do
this by being themselves. We all want to be seen "in a good light," but it's important that people get to
know the "real" you. You can learn more about being true to your own personality and values in our
articles on authenticity  and authentic leadership .
Engage in honest conversations with people and share your ideas about issues that matter to you. Admit
when you've made a mistake, ask for help if you need it, and give credit to others for their achievements.

2. Communication
Effective communication  enables you to express your ideas and engage with people. But the way you
speak is often seen as  more persuasive than what you're speaking about. People are drawn to passion
and presence. Here are some of the elements of good communication that contribute to executive
presence:
Speaking Skills. Your tone, grammar, accent, and clarity all convey a message to your listeners. If your
voice is raspy or if you mumble, people will focus more on the way you speak than on what you're saying.
Try to keep an even tone when you speak. For example, your voice tends to rise when you become
stressed, and listeners will pick up on that.
Take voice lessons to make your accent easier to understand and try drinking hot lemon and honey
before delivering a speech, so you don't sound raspy. Avoid saying "um", "er" and "you know," because
these time fillers make you sound unsure of yourself. Our article, Better Public Speaking , has more
tips to help you improve your skills.
Commanding a Room. This is more about building a connection than taking charge. Instead of
walking into a room and trying to take control, it's better to smile, listen and share your thoughts,
without revealing too much. As the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a great first
impression !
You want to present yourself as a real person who others can relate to, trust and want to follow, while
maintaining your position of authority. Use anecdotes, rather than bombarding people with information,
and engage in small talk to break the ice. A little bit of humor also helps to draw people to you.
Assertiveness. Balance is key when it comes to leading others. You need to be clear and forthright
about your needs, while still considering the needs of other people. When you act assertively you act
fairly and with empathy . The power you use comes from your self-confidence and not from
intimidation or bullying. Find out more on this, with our article on assertiveness .
Body Language. The way we sit, walk, smile, and enter a room are all ways of communicating, and
most people pick up on these cues before you say a word. Your confidence is quickly revealed in the
firmness of a handshake and whether you make eye contact. Your body language  is a reflection of the
way you feel so, when you are comfortable with who you are, that confidence shows in your posture and
your stride.
Be sure to keep your head up and your shoulders back, and try to look relaxed and happy. Keep your
composure when situations get heated.

3. Appearance

https://www.mindtools.com/community/pages/article/developing-executive-presence.php 3/5
5/14/22, 12:05 AM Developing Executive Presence - Building Belief in Your Leadership

While your appearance is not as important as gravitas and communication, you can show your presence
by maintaining an attractive look. Hewlett's studies of senior leaders revealed that looking groomed and
polished actually had greater impact than physical beauty, youth, height, or weight. Present yourself as a
neat and clean person, to show your respect for yourself and others. Here are a few more tips:

People do "judge a book by its cover," so choose clothes and styles that are suitable for the occasion
and the environment. You might live in flip-flops at home, but wearing them to a meeting means you
will not be taken seriously by the other attendees. And be aware of any potential cross cultural
faux-pas  when it comes to clothing.
Fidgeting and pulling at ill-fitting clothes is a distraction. You will also feel more self-conscious,
which might make you lose confidence. If a piece of clothing doesn't feel comfortable, don't wear it.
Not everyone is a style guru so, if you're unsure, hire an image consultant or a personal shopper.

Key Points
Executive presence is a seemingly elusive quality of successful leaders, but it's something that anyone
can learn.
By developing the three main aspects of gravitas, communication and appearance, you can acquire the
skills you need to polish your look, build your confidence, and connect with people in a way that will
increase their respect for you and your leadership abilities.
Your body language and tone of voice communicate a message to others. Walk into a room with your
head up and a smile on your face.
Try talking about subjects you are interested in, but don't dominate the conversation. Ask others for
their opinions and use your sense of humor to inject a little lightheartedness into a situation.

Add this article to My Learning Plan

atings

https://www.mindtools.com/community/pages/article/developing-executive-presence.php 4/5
5/14/22, 12:05 AM Developing Executive Presence - Building Belief in Your Leadership

ElrayHarvey 2022-04-24 17:50:25


    
cesca_t 2021-04-23 12:40:35

    
Advising people to see a stylist? For women to not wear ‘dangly earrings’?? Sorry but this is old
fashioned and sexist. Advise people to look well groomed and leave it at that!

WillMac 2020-09-16 12:41:59


    
nephtali 2019-10-19 04:23:44

    
ALCmindtools 2019-06-24 06:01:54


    
Thank you for the practical tips.

1 2345

Learning Stream
The Advanced Leader
Previous (/community/pages/article/newLDR_90.php)Next (/community/pages/article/fiedler.php)

© Emerald Works Limited 2022. All rights reserved. "Mind Tools" is a registered
trademark of Emerald Works Limited.

https://www.mindtools.com/community/pages/article/developing-executive-presence.php 5/5