What makes your presence influential
What makes your presence influential
5 minutes
Picture this: you are about to deliver presentation you are knowledgeable and passionate about. You’ve prepared for it for some time, and the moment of truth is almost at hand.
As soon as you walk into the room however, everything is silent. All eyes are on you, and you decide to set up your laptop. Not even a murmur passes from your audience. There’s only the sound of your clothes rustling and the hum of static as you plug in your laptop. The weight of their stare settles heavily on your shoulders, and your palms begin to sweat.
What, then, should you do?
Executive presence is made of intangible yet prominent qualities leaders exude. When a leader has executive presence, their influence is more likely to be seen, heard, and felt by others in a room. It is a powerful and persuasive tool, guiding others to place trust and confidence in the leader themselves.
Executive presence is all about what you show and how others perceive it. To start building your influence, take a look at these three pillars of executive presence:
How do you present yourself when others are around? Are you confident, decisive, and inclusive in your decisions? Can your vision, values, and integrity as a leader be inferred just from observation?
How do you sound in a room full of people? Can you appropriately match the tone of your audience? Where are your hands positioned when you speak up? How is your level of eye contact?
Dressing up doesn't necessarily mean being in three-piece suits and pencil skirts at all times. Instead, it's all about dressing for the occasion -- both through clothes and appeal. After all, a well-pressed shirt and dress shoes can only go so far with a slouch and a permanent scowl.
With consistent effort through consciously adopting gravitas, excellent communication, and a stellar appearance, your presence can increase over time.
