Developing Executive Presence

A Monthly Newsletter: July 2024

Welcome to July’s edition of my newsletter!

Unsurprisingly this is a time when a lot of us are taking or thinking about a vacation. Depending on what we choose to do, we can find ourselves with space in the day, which allows our subconscious thoughts to appear (whether we like it or not!) and often reflections on where we are on our career trajectory. This can be helpful if we are trying to pull our thoughts into a coherent plan but sometimes it can start our thoughts spinning unhelpfully….

If you are finding yourself in that space and are seeking some clarity and direction over what to do next, whether in the immediate short/medium term or further ahead, and you would like some support to avoid the ‘spinning’ and procrastination that can hold us back, reach out to book a free strategy session. I would love to help you save time and energy, and achieve your financial and career goals sooner…..

Use the link here if you are ready to make a change….and I can’t wait to speak with you!

I frequently speak with clients about confidence and body language when they are thinking about positioning themselves for future roles or even in delivering presentations. But when we mix these components with gravitas, clear communication and being authentic in the workplace, we start talking about something less tangible and easy to describe - Executive Presence.

Researching more on this recently, I was interested to hear the perspectives around what this covers. Three areas were mentioned that can be helpful to consider:

  1. How we think and how our thoughts come out - (can we communicate well and articulate ideas?)

  2. How people experience us - (are we interested, positive and clear?)

  3. How people connect with us - (do we build relationships and are we open and approachable?)

So why is it important to think about our Executive Presence?

There are a number of areas where developing ‘Executive Presence’ can be helpful, when we think about our professional growth. I highlight a few below from my own experiences.

  • Career progression

  • Being noticed for new opportunities

  • Building trust and credibility

  • Developing leadership effectiveness

  • Getting attention quickly

So, what can you do about it?

From my own experiences there are few areas that you can focus on to help support developing executive presence. But the top 5 things to consider from the outset are:

  1. Be self aware of how you are coming across. Seek out feedback from those you trust to understand your strengths and areas to develop.

  2. Improve your communication skills. Invest time in improving public speaking skills and delivering presentations. Practice delivering presentations to build confidence and to improve impact.

  3. Become an active listener. Mirror body language and tone, ask clarifying questions and repeat back to ensure you have understood.

  4. Manage appearances and ensure first impressions are positive. Coming across as ‘polished’ is key here. You don’t need to be a fashion icon but do consider how you ‘appear’ to others. If you struggle with this, seek out some professional support.

  5. Invest in relationships and build your network. Create strong connections within your organization and externally, to improve your credibility, build trust and expand your future opportunities.

Final Thoughts

Knowing that ‘Executive Presence’ is a ‘thing’ that needs consideration, can be daunting if you are not even sure what it consists of, or where to start. Once you appreciate the components that make up this intangible area, it is easier to break down the development angles that require attention.

But as with many aspects of personal growth, seeking out feedback to understand our current performance should always be the first step. We cannot possibly know how we are being perceived by others and that is the tricky aspect of this development area. Once we have the baseline though, we can start to plan and take action, and to build the ‘presence’ we want to be known for and consequently set ourselves up for achieving even greater accomplishments.

Wishing you success in growing your executive presence and achieving your career goals!

 

ps. When you’re ready…..I help leaders and teams through 1:1 coaching, training, facilitation and operations guidance. Reach out for a complimentary intro call

New Website and Service Offering!!!!

Did you know I also offer consulting services as well as coaching?

Having a support team in the background to help with the framework for your growing business is crucial to achieving greater revenue. Knowing that your processes and systems are ‘in hand’ so you can focus on client creation can be a relief and will help you hit your financial goals quicker. Curious to learn more? Check out my services on my new website.

2024’s most wanted….Team Coaching & Training for your Team

  • Manager to Leader Transition – How to get comfortable not knowing how to do the job well, without losing credibility and building your reputation.

  • Team Effectiveness and Productivity – How to prioritize work, deal with multiple demands and develop tools and strategies to manage overwhelm…

  • Executive Presence – What is it and if you want to grow this, how do you get it?

Want to find out more about our team sessions? Use the link below to schedule a free call and discuss your desired outcomes.

What my clients have to say!

‘Emma has been coaching me for over eight months and throughout that time, I have been able to gain perspective around my career. Specifically, coaching has helped me reduce stress and improve my level of engagement as related to my goals. If you aren’t sure what coaching is, or how it can help, I recommend Emma who creates a supportive, patient and non-judgmental environment that is conducive to personal and professional growth.’

Donnafay.

Referring Someone in Your Network to Executive Coaching or Team Coaching Support.

It makes sense that you trust your colleagues and friends to provide great professional contacts. So, if someone in your network could use coaching support, please introduce us!

I’m very grateful for everyone who connects me with their colleagues and friends. Thank you!

Emma