As a professional, you are being judged not only on your performance but also on your presence. People form an impression of others within seconds of meeting them. The real question, then, is not whether you’ll create an impression, but rather, will you create the one that you want?
- Rely on feedback: Actively solicit feedback on your presence from your manager, direct reports, colleagues, and mentors.
- Tune into how you communicate: Everything you say and do sends a message. Beyond the words you choose, consider how you use your voice and your accompanying non-verbal behaviors.
- Experiment with new behaviors: Based on the feedback you received, choose just one or two presence-building behaviors to practice.
- Be present: Multi-tasking, mind-wandering, or thinking about work that’s piling up as you attend a meeting or interact with others will detract from your presence.
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If you’ve ever asked a senior leader or a mentor what it takes to rise to the C-suite, their answer has most likely included “executive presence” in addition to timing, experience, network, and confidence. Author Sylvia Ann Hewitt describes it as “the missing link between merit and success,” and a combination of self-confidence, poise, and authenticity that impacts your ability to inspire confidence in others to believe in and follow you.
