How to Build Your Executive Presence in Just Three Steps.

Many of my prospective clients want to talk about executive presence when we engage in our chemistry calls. The term “executive presence” has many meanings, but my favorite is posed as a question: “How do you want to show up?”

How do you want to show up in various scenarios:

In front of your team? In a room full of senior executives? With important customers? At a speaking engagement? With your peers?

To achieve a strong executive presence, you first need to lay some groundwork, especially in understanding the concept of “personal presence.”

Consider the following:

  • Personal presence is about confidence in being you—how you best reset and renew and how well you custom-fit your communication. It’s about the positive traits you want to “pick up.”
  • Next, consider what you need to “let go of.” It could be doubting how you contribute (imposter syndrome), running hard until you crash, or using one-size-fits-all communication.

As you grow in your presence, you’ll see growth in your executive presence—your ability to “show up” well in various settings.

Many of my clients earned their roles by being subject matter experts, relying only on themselves to get the work done. However, this can inadvertently lead to feeling overwhelmed by unconscious incompetence. In other words, they don’t know what they don’t know yet.

Building your executive presence is about confidence, which is vital to personal accountability and demonstrating that you take responsibility for your role. It’s a significant step toward owning a seat at the table.

To build that personal confidence that leads to better executive presence, try these simple steps:

  1. Influence others to create results.
  2. Delegate and teach—and remember to stay in learning mode yourself.
  3. Remember, the team you’re on is your boss’s team, which consists of your peers.

The road to an improved executive presence has potential pitfalls—subtle traps that can hinder your journey.

To avoid them, practice the following:

  1. Preparation—This may entail rehearsing, clearing your head of clutter, calming your nerves with a “go-to” tool, or anticipating questions you may be asked.
  2. Attentiveness—Show interest through eye contact and body language. If you are bored, be aware of what you tend to do and hold yourself accountable.
  3. Engagement—Ask for feedback and input from those involved. That helps you avoid the appearance of being aloof, lacking confidence, or becoming invisible.

On a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the best, how would you rank your confidence in your presence right now? What do you need to “pick up”? What do you need to “let go of”?

Remember, establishing a strong executive presence doesn’t happen overnight. There’s no magic wand to master this. It’s a journey that takes time. So be patient with yourself. But following the steps outlined above is a great start!