Leadership Presence

So, you want to get ahead, really make it beyond where you are professionally and perhaps even personally today? I am often asked to define the true keys to success by my executive leadership clientele.

Quite simply, the key to your success is you! It really doesn’t matter with whom you are communicating, your board president or your spouse. What does matter is that the presence you project will directly affect the level of success that you are able to attain.

Not respective of how well-versed or well-prepared you are, your nonverbal demeanor will always take precedent. This nonverbal demeanor arises from your sense of your self – the concepts you hold true about you. And, if you are selling anything from a brand new concept to an innovative product, it behooves you to increase your awareness of your own, unique presence because it alone will affect your success.

According to the top recruiters, leadership presence is probably the single most important factor in your ability to become a top executive. While an individual’s grooming and dress shape how he or she is perceived, presence involves more than just the physical.

Confidence, energy level and communication skills are essential. Executives with presence assert themselves, offer a hand first, ask questions and appear interested. They are self-confident and gracious and can conduct a conversation with people at a variety of levels.

According to 160 top executive recruiters, presence is a package of eight key factors:

o Focus (commitment to the long term and big picture) 93.4%*
o Intellect (ability to view an issue from many different perspectives) 89.5%
o Charisma (ability to demonstrate intensity and remain caring) 86.9%
o Communication Skills (how they communicate, not merely what they communicate) 82.9%
o Passion (there are no reluctant leaders) 81.7%
o Culture Fit (demonstrate keen sense of organization’s values) 76.8%
o Poise (relaxed composure in all business situations) 74.5%
o Appearance (act the part in attire and grooming) 68.1%

*The number indicates the percentage of recruiters who indicated that this factor was very important in determining a candidate’s "Executive Presence," From The Road to CEO, by Sharon Voros.

Why not take this one week out to pay attention to the role that your sense about your Self is currently play in attaining your own success? What level of leadership presence do you currently project? Where is there room for growth and improvement? How honest can you be to make the changes necessary to improve.