When a new year begins, it is a time of self-reflection and rebirth. With that, it is important to reflect not only on our successes and failures, but also how we reacted to certain events and how our actions were perceived by others. In other words, we must be aware of our executive presence.
Executive presence isn’t just about what we wear, though that’s part of it. Others make judgments and/or criticism of the people they meet based on their attraction alone. A well-dressed person is perceived as successful, while someone who wears ill-fitting and out-of-fashion clothes may be viewed negatively. As an example, assumptions are made about job search candidates based on their LinkedIn profile picture.
However, executive presence is much more than that. It also encompasses our speech, gestures and our personality in general. Projecting confidence is also a component of it. Just the way a person walks across a room to greet someone speaks volumes before the person even utters a word. It is also how an individual interacts in a meeting. Do you want to have a voice at the table or just be a voice on the wall? Do you want others to take charge of the conversation or do you want your opinions to be heard?
Another aspect of executive presence is our manners. Do you have bad habits that affect your work performance? Things like being late to meetings, interrupting, and missing deadlines are just a few ways that can affect how others perceive you. Ignoring the details and not planning properly can also have a negative impact on your reputation.
To combat all of this and create the executive presence you want, you must first have clarity. Take time to reflect on when others responded positively to you and when they didn’t. Ask others how they perceive you and ask them to identify the areas you need to work on. Also review past performance reviews that will highlight your competencies and suggest those you need to work on.
Executive presence also includes who you interact with. Your connections are a huge part of who you are, so it’s important to be around people who lift you up instead of bringing you down and holding you back. It is always enlightening to be around those who exude confidence and energy, as well as wanting to help others instead of just focusing on themselves. By giving more of ourselves and showing gratitude, we can be seen as a positive influence on others.
Finally, we must be consistent, which can be the most difficult part of our executive presence. We need to recognize our triggers that can affect our emotions, our habits that can negatively affect our performance, and the way we communicate that can send mixed messages. By being more aware of our actions, we can strive to continually improve our image to others.