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Have you ever felt like your influence has hit a ceiling? The charisma and leadership skills that once rallied teams and inspired action seem to be losing their edge. Maybe you used to effortlessly cast a vision, engage talent, and create a collective "we" out of a disparate group of individuals.
But now, despite your best efforts, you feel your ability to inspire and lead is different from what it used to be.
First off, let me assure you—this feeling is entirely natural. In fact, it's often a sign of growth. As we pursue bigger and better things, aiming to serve more people in higher-quality ways, our leadership must evolve to meet new challenges. It's not that your influence is diminishing; it's that the game has changed, and it's time to level up.
One key area that can unlock this new level of leadership is focusing on your executive presence. But not just any executive presence—healthy executive presence.
What Is Executive Presence Really?
When we hear "executive presence," a flurry of images might come to mind: commanding attention, exuding confidence, and easily influencing others. Traditional definitions often describe it as:
- The ability to inspire confidence.
- The capacity to command attention and influence others.
- Inspiring others to be assertive through consistent demonstration of confidence and clear leadership.
While these definitions capture elements of executive presence, they often miss the experiential essence. Think about leaders you've encountered who, when they entered a room, seemed to change the very air you were breathing. Their presence wasn't about loudness or showmanship; it was about a grounded authenticity that naturally drew others in. Their influence was palpable, not because of a title or a facade, but because of who they were at their core.
Avoiding Toxic Executive Presence
Before diving into cultivating a healthy executive presence, it's crucial to recognize what it is not. Toxic executive presence relies on superficial displays of power or success. It's the Instagram influencer flaunting wealth to gain followers or the leader who dominates conversations to assert control. Historical examples like certain tactics used by LBJ—or fictional ones like Michael Scott's misguided negotiation strategies in The Office—highlight how not to lead.
These approaches might command attention temporarily, but they don't foster genuine influence or inspire lasting confidence. Instead, they create environments of intimidation, insecurity, or disconnection.
Embracing the Virtues of Healthy Executive Presence
Healthy executive presence is rooted in authenticity and oriented toward others. It's about embodying virtues that naturally inspire confidence and influence. Let's explore four key virtues that form the foundation of this kind of leadership.
Preparation: The Foundation of Confidence
"Fail to prepare, prepare to fail." This adage holds especially true for leaders. Those with healthy executive presence consistently show up prepared. They've done their homework, thought through the details, and are ready to engage meaningfully.
Preparation is the prerequisite for confidence. If you're not confident in your knowledge or plans, how can you expect others to be? Confidence isn't about having all the answers; it's about being thoroughly engaged with the material, understanding the nuances, and being ready to navigate uncertainties.
Action Steps:
- POP! (Plan on Paper): Don't rely on loosely held opinions. Write down your plans, objectives, potential risks, and benefits. Putting your ideas on paper clarifies your thinking and strengthens your proposals.
- Have the Meeting Before the Meeting: Rehearse important conversations. Discuss your ideas with a trusted colleague or even yourself. Anticipate questions and challenges. This practice not only boosts your confidence but also refines your message.
Remember, the person who has done the most homework often carries the most certainty, and certainty inspires others.
Peace: Cultivating Inner Stability
People crave peace, especially in a world filled with chaos and uncertainty. As a leader, your internal state profoundly affects those around you. The internal always leaks into the external. If you're anxious or unsettled inside, it will manifest in your words, actions, and decisions.
Cultivating inner peace isn't just about stress management; it's about creating a stable foundation from which you can lead effectively.
Action Steps:
- Silent Reflection: Spend 12 minutes in silence with your eyes closed. Observe where your mind goes. Are you anxious? Restless? Content? This practice can reveal underlying thoughts or feelings that need addressing.
- Address Unsettled Thoughts: If you notice worries or inadequacies, acknowledge them. Reflect on what's true and what might be distorted perceptions. Consider journaling or speaking with a mentor to process these feelings.
By fostering inner peace, you become a calming presence for others, enabling you to lead with clarity and compassion.
Presence: The Power of Being Available
One of the most underrated leadership qualities is simply being present. The best ability is availability. True presence isn't about micromanaging or controlling every situation; it's about being genuinely engaged and accessible.
Avoid the extremes of absence—where you're disconnected from your team—and control, where your involvement stifles others. Instead, aim for an authentic presence that empowers those around you.
Action Steps:
- Participate Without Leading: Join meetings as a participant rather than the facilitator. This shows trust in your team and allows you to engage from a different perspective.
- Be Accessible: Arrive early to meetings and stay a bit afterward. These extra minutes can foster meaningful connections.
- Responsive Communication: Make it a point to respond to messages promptly. Pick up the phone if a conversation becomes lengthy over text or email. Your willingness to engage directly demonstrates commitment.
Presence builds trust. When your team knows you're there for them, it strengthens the collective resolve.
People-Centric: Remembering the Core Purpose
At the heart of leadership is a focus on people. Healthy executive presence is inherently people-centric. It's about remembering that the organization's goals ultimately serve individuals—team members, customers, or stakeholders.
Leaders with this virtue consistently bring conversations back to how decisions impact people. They prioritize relationships and understand that success is a collective endeavor.
Action Steps:
- Identify Your Stakeholders: Clearly define who you're responsible for—your team, customers, partners—and consider their perspectives in your decisions.
- Ask Impactful Questions: In discussions, pose questions like, "How will this affect our team?" or "What would our customers think about this?"
- Prioritize Relationships: Establish regular check-ins or informal interactions to stay connected with those you lead.
Keeping people at the forefront ensures that your leadership fosters growth, trust, and mutual success.
Moving Forward: Unlocking Your Leadership Potential
Embracing these virtues—preparation, peace, presence, and people-centric focus—can help you break through that influence ceiling. It's not about grand gestures or authoritative commands; it's about consistently embodying qualities that naturally inspire others.
As you reflect on these principles, consider where you excel and where you might need growth. Leadership is a journey, and each step taken in self-awareness and intentionality brings you closer to the impact you aspire to have.
In our next discussion, we'll explore four more virtues that further enhance healthy executive presence: being principle-based, embracing humility (poor in spirit), maintaining a sustainable pace, and prioritizing effectively.
Remember, leadership isn't about being the loudest in the room; it's about being the most authentic. Your influence grows through what you do and who you are.
