When you hear the term ‘executive presence,’ what qualities or characteristics come to mind? This exercise will guide you in defining what executive presence means to you and how it aligns with your unique, authentic leadership style.
Embracing Your Authentic Self
The prevalence of men in the workplace, especially in leadership roles, has led to “masculine” behaviors often being associated with the term “executive presence.”
As a result, many women feel pressured to downplay or conceal aspects of their identities (such as being a mother or caregiver) in order to conform to traditional expectations of what an executive, professional, or leader “should” embody.
A shift towards embracing authenticity over gendered role expectations is essential to addressing gender bias and creating equal value and opportunity for every executive. Imagine the transformation within workplaces and society if leaders could bring their full, authentic selves to their roles. How might we begin to pave the way toward this change?
Defining Executive Presence
The term ‘executive presence’ is commonly used in leadership contexts, describing the ability to inspire and guide others with confidence.
However, executive presence shouldn’t be about conforming to a particular archetype. Instead, it’s about the energy you project and what it communicates about you as a professional. This, in turn, shapes how others respond to and interact with you, ultimately influencing the opportunities available to you.
The executive presence you choose to embody can be shaped by the needs of your environment or the specific demands of a situation. For instance: How do you respond when an unexpected question catches you off-guard during a presentation? How do you assert yourself when you’re repeatedly interrupted in a meeting? How do you set boundaries by saying ‘no’ to tasks that may hinder your growth? Or, how do you uplift a team that needs a morale boost?
Qualities like calm, confidence, strength, and charisma can all be conveyed through the energy you bring and the behaviors you nurture in the workplace.
Ultimately, executive presence is a skill that becomes most effective when it’s authentic. Defining it in a way that aligns with who you are—and practicing it over time—is essential. The following exercise will help you explore different strategies, allowing you to see what resonates with you and how others respond.
The exercise
Start by reflecting on what ‘executive presence’ personally means to you. Consider asking yourself what kind of energy you want to embody as a leader and how you’d like others to perceive you. This introspection can help clarify the qualities you aim to project.
What would it feel like to embody your ideal version of executive presence? Imagine where this feeling might resonate within your body. How would you stand, walk, and speak? What kind of energy would you radiate, and how might it influence your interactions with others?
Strengthen your sense of executive presence by experimenting with different approaches. Walk around the room, try various stances, and envision yourself giving a key presentation. Test out different breathing rhythms, movements, and vocal tones to see what feels most authentic and powerful for you.
Consider people whose executive presence you admire and might want to emulate. How could you adapt aspects of their behavior in a way that feels authentic and aligns with your own style?
With a clearer sense of your unique executive presence, you can begin to identify situations where embodying this presence would benefit you. Consider how you might harness it strategically to support your goals and make a positive impact.
What practices or reminders would help you tap into this presence when needed? How might you incorporate it into your day-to-day role? Think about cues or techniques that could reinforce this mindset regularly. And consider, what’s one step you could take right now to start embodying your ideal executive presence?
Bring it into Coaching
Discuss this exercise with your coach to create a plan for consistently developing your executive presence. Like any other skill, executive presence can be learned and strengthened with practice over time. Your coach can support you in tracking your progress and exploring ways to bring more of your authentic self into your professional life.