What is Executive Presence? Find Your IT Factor

What makes someone a leader? It goes without saying that to get to where you are, you must have achieved meaningful job performance. But being truly respected and admired as a leader requires far more than just hitting numbers.

For example, you may have the skills, but are you seen as an authority whom others seek out for advice? You may have good ideas, but can you present them with confidence and credibility to any audience? You may be analytical, but can you make difficult decisions under pressure that convey your good judgment and courage? You may have a title, but can you set a vision that inspires a team to follow you into battle?

All of these questions point back to one thing—the "it" factor — or what is commonly called executive presence.

Executive presence is often thought of as the unique combination of your personal traits and outward behaviors that can significantly influence the impression others have of you. While some might think it is solely dependent upon how you present yourself to the world, executive presence is actually a two-sided experience that includes two things:

• How you perceive yourself
• How others perceive you

Both are key for you to develop an authentic and sustainable executive presence. Compelling leaders have six traits—three internal and three external.

While you may have natural strengths in several areas, you need to develop your capabilities in each aspect of executive presence as much as possible. An integrated approach will increase your chances of establishing the executive presence you want.

The best way to begin strengthening your executive presence is with a self-assessment. This will allow you to thoughtfully identify where you are strong and what gaps you need to close.

I have developed a comprehensive self-assessment for my clients. Here are a few questions from that questionnaire to help you get a feel for your capabilities in each of the six areas.

Inner Compass: 

Using your values to guide your thoughts and actions, having the courage of your convictions

• Do I have a process for making decisions in a timely manner that allows me to weigh the options without delaying or stalling unnecessarily?
• Do I second-guess myself after I've made decisions?
• Am I clear about my values and live by them?

Centeredness: 

Managing your emotions, remaining grounded and present

• Can I navigate difficult conversations confidently and effectively?
• Do I keep my cool under pressure?
• Am I approachable and easy to read?

Confidence:

Having clarity about and belief in your knowledge, skills and abilities

• Do I think of myself as an expert in my field?
• Am I comfortable talking about my strengths without appearing arrogant or self-centered?
• Do I hold myself to a high standard of excellence and performance?

Composure: 

Maintaining a strong physical presence and energy, controlling your body's response to anxiety

• Do I have a strong physical presence that is characterized by sitting/standing tall, leaning forward and looking others in the eye?
• Can I dial up/down my tone and energy to be effective with different audiences?
• Do I feel comfortable in my own skin?

Communication: 

Engaging with, influencing and inspiring others

• Do I use gestures, body language and eye contact to telegraph confidence and ease during my presentations?
• Am I comfortable handling Q-and-A sessions?
• Do I bring a lot of energy and passion to my presentations?

Clout: 

Wielding influence, establishing networks and building reputation

• Have I built a strong network of influential individuals both inside and outside my organization?
• Am I good at creating and communicating a compelling vision of the future?
• Am I viewed as a strategic thinker by others?

Level Up Your Leadership

Of the six categories, where are your strengths? Where are your weaknesses? It's likely you have some of both.

If you're looking to level up your leadership, and empower your team, consider my keynote speaking. With over 20 years of experience as a founder, executive coach and leadership strategist, I bring practical strategies that you can implement, today.