A Simple, 3-Step Strategy to Improve Executive Presence
Are you a leader striving to improve your executive presence but feeling overwhelmed by vague advice and ambiguous feedback? You're not alone. Navigating feedback about improving executive presence can feel like trying to solve a puzzle with missing pieces.
What is Executive Presence?
Having “executive presence” is critical to being seen as an effective leader. But what is executive presence? Too often, leaders are given this feedback without enough context or direction to know how to improve it. They’re left grappling with vague feedback and generic advice, unsure of how to bridge the gap between where they are and where they want to be.
People with strong executive presence exude confidence, credibility, and authority. It's that intangible quality that makes others sit up and take notice, fostering trust and respect. Executive presence enables leaders to command a room, influence stakeholders, and drive organizational success.
However, building executive presence can be challenging. It requires self-awareness, intentional effort, and a willingness to step outside one's comfort zone. Many struggle to identify specific behaviors that contribute to executive presence and find it daunting to make meaningful changes. Yet, with the right guidance and a strategic approach, enhancing executive presence is achievable for anyone committed to their personal and professional development.
Behavioral Coaching to the Rescue
In my executive coaching practice, executive presence comes up a lot. Many of my clients want to enhance their executive presence, but they aren't sure where to start. I've helped hundreds of people improve their executive presence, and my approach is always the same—practical, results-oriented, and grounded in my behavioral coaching methodology.
Behavioral coaching is all about action and accountability. Rather than dwelling on the “why,” I guide my clients to focus on the “what” and the “how.” We find out exactly what they are doing—or not doing—that is causing others to say they lack executive presence. Then we come up with simple things they can do to change those perceptions. We treat it like an experiment, tracking progress and making adjustments along the way.
Case Study: How a Simple Pause Led to Increased Executive Presence
Consider a recent client of mine who received feedback from her CEO that she needed to improve her executive presence. At first, she took the feedback at face value and tried to seem more “executive.” Over time she realized she had no idea how to change his perception. By then, she was too embarrassed to ask for specific examples or suggestions on how to improve. As if by asking about it, she’d further demonstrate that she didn’t have it.
Unsure of where to start, she felt trapped in a cycle of uncertainty and frustration. As part of our coaching engagement, I conducted a 360-feedback assessment to gain clarity. It revealed recurring themes—such as rushing around and appearing reactive—that were undermining her executive presence.
Together, we devised a simple yet powerful solution: before each meeting, she would pause, take a few deep breaths, and focus on her objectives. This practice, though seemingly small, made a significant impact.
No longer rushing into meetings, she exuded a sense of calm, confidence, and control. She entered each meeting with clear intentions and objectives, leading to more intentional contributions and a stronger presence in discussions. Consequently, meetings became more productive and less stressful, fostering an environment where she could effectively communicate her ideas and inspire confidence among her colleagues.
The beauty of behavioral coaching lies in its simplicity. By identifying specific behaviors that were undermining her executive presence and practicing new, more intentional behaviors, this leader experienced transformative results. And so can you.
A 3-Step Approach to Enhance Your Executive Presence
If you want to enhance your executive presence but don't know where to start, try this simple, 3-step behavioral coaching approach. It takes the guesswork out of the process, providing actionable steps that may seem small but can yield significant results. It does require being open to feedback and willing to experiment, but trust me, the payoff is worth it.
Ask for specific feedback.
Reach out to 5-10 of your key stakeholders (e.g., your manager, your colleagues, a trusted partner) and ask what executive presence means to them.
Ask when they’ve seen you demonstrate strong executive presence.
Ask what specific behaviors undermine your executive presence.
Look for behavioral themes.
For example:
Do you appear rushed and reactive?
Are you too quiet in meetings?
Do you interrupt people?
Identify new behaviors to practice.
For example:
Rushed and reactive? Take a few minutes to pause and prepare before meetings.
Too quiet in meetings? Commit to saying at least one thing in every meeting.
Interrupting? Allow others to finish speaking and count to 3 before responding.
You may be tempted to practice several new behaviors at once. Resist the temptation! Instead, pick one new behavior and commit to it. Experiment with it, and check back in with your stakeholders to see if they've noticed an improvement. Once you feel confident in this behavior, then move on to the next one.
By committing to one behavior at a time, you can focus your efforts and track your progress more effectively. This deliberate approach allows you to make meaningful changes and build momentum over time. Building your executive presence is a marathon, not a sprint. Take it one step at a time, and you'll soon see the results.
Want Faster Results?
By following this simple, 3-step approach, you will improve your executive presence. But, let’s face it, it can be challenging (and awkward) to get candid, actionable feedback from your stakeholders. And, synthesizing it to identify the right themes can be overwhelming. Not to mention coming up with a list of new behaviors to experiment with.
It’s possible to do it on your own, but it’s much easier with help.
An executive coach with expertise in behavioral coaching can make all the difference. Working with a coach will help you cut through the noise and create a practical action plan to get results quickly and effectively. By soliciting and synthesizing feedback on your behalf, a coach will identify areas for improvement that might not be immediately obvious. With their personalized support and guidance, you'll stay on track and make consistent progress towards your goals. They serve as your partner, providing encouragement, motivation, and constructive feedback every step of the way.
If you're ready to improve your executive presence and accelerate your professional growth, our Executive Accelerator programs may be for you. We offer one-on-one coaching and a group coaching program. Either way, by actively engaging in the coaching, we guarantee that you will see results, or you will receive a full refund.
One-on-One Coaching: This program begins with a comprehensive 360 assessment to identify the specific behaviors that are holding you back. From there, you'll receive personalized one-on-one coaching sessions focused on action planning and accountability, ensuring that you make tangible progress towards improving your executive presence. We can also include Alignment Meetings with your manager or other stakeholder so that everyone is on the same page and aligned about what success looks like.
Group Coaching: In this program, we address common behaviors that undermine executive presence in a collaborative group setting. Through interactive sessions and peer support, you'll gain valuable insights and strategies for overcoming these challenges, all while benefiting from the collective wisdom of your peers. You’ll also learn how to understand and communicate your unique “edge” and value proposition. It’s a powerful approach with game-changing results.
Building executive presence is an ongoing process—one that requires curiosity, experimentation, and practice. With the right guidance and a practical, results-oriented approach, you can increase your executive presence and take charge of your career. To learn more, check out our Executive Accelerator programs, or schedule a quick Zoom call with Angela.
