executive presence: defining yourself as a leader

Michelle TenzykPresident

East Tenth Group

EXECUTIVE PRESENCE:DEFINING YOURSELF AS A LEADER

WHAT IS EXECUTIVE PRESENCE?AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?

gravitas(how you act)communication

(how you speak)

appearance(how you look)

67%28%

5%

SOURCE: Center for Talent Innovation, 2014

EXECUTIVE PRESENCE IS A DYNAMIC MIX OF 3 THINGS:

4

HOW TO BUILD EXECUTIVE PRESENCE

HOW DO PROFESSIONALS WITH STRONG EXECUTIVE PRESENCE ACT? THEY…

ARE COMPOSED

ESTABLISH STRONG CONNECTIONS

SPEAK WITH IMPACT

STAY ON POINT

COMMUNICATE CONFIDENCE

LIVE “IN THE MOMENT”

COMMUNICATE CLEARLY

SOURCE: Center for Talent Innovation, 2014

3 KEY ELEMENTS OF EXECUTIVE PRESENCE

gravitas(how you act)communication

(how you speak)

appearance(how you look)

28%

5%

67%

TOP ASPECTS OF GRAVITAS

Vision/Charisma

Reputation & Standing Pedigree

Emotional Intelligence

Integrity and Speaking Truth to Power

Decisiveness & Showing Teeth

Confidence, Poise, & Grace Under Fire

50%

56%

61%

64%

70%

79%

54%

57%

68%

63%

70%

76%

For Men For Women

SOURCE: Center for Talent Innovation, 2014

8

GRAVITAS BLUNDERS

Lack of Integrity

Sexual Impropriety

Flip-Flopping

Shallow/Light-weight

Inflated Ego/ Bullying

Off-Color/ Racially

Insensitive Jokes

SOURCE: Executive Presence, The Missing Link Between Merit and Success

SOURCE: Center for Talent Innovation, 2014

3 KEY ELEMENTS OF EXECUTIVE PRESENCE

gravitas(how you act)communication

(how you speak)

appearance(how you look)

67%

5%

28%

TOP COMMUNICATION TRAITS

Body Language/Posture

Sense of Humor & Ability to Banter

Ability to Read a Client/Boss/Room

Forcefulness & Assertiveness

Ability to Command a Room

Concise, Compelling Speaking Style

21%

33%

39%

48%

49%

60%

25%

35%

33%

48%

54%

63%

For Men For Women

SOURCE: Center for Talent Innovation, 2014

HOW TO UP YOUR COMMUNICATIONS SKILLS

Ditch the verbal crutches – fillers such as “um”, “like”, and “you know” get in the way and undermine your message

Broaden your small talk

Get control of your voice (breathe!)

Over prepare 

Less can be more

“Stand” tall

Lose the props

SOURCE: Executive Presence, The Missing Link Between Merit and Success

MAKE YOUR LANGUAGE MORE MUSCULAR

SOURCE: HBR, Women, Find Your Voice

INSTEAD OF THISHow about…?I tend to agreeI think maybe..

I agree.Maybe we can…?

Well, what if..?

USE THISI strongly suggestThat is absolutely right, and here’s why..My strong advice is…I agree completely, becauseHere is my plan…I recommend…

WHAT ABOUT THOSE MEETINGS?

Women could go a long way toward addressing their feelings of isolation by getting in on the “meetings

before the meetings.”

SOURCE: HBR, Women, Find Your Voice

HE SAID SHE SAIDWe’re afraid of how women will

react to criticismWe don’t get feedback, even when we ask for it.

Women need to be concise and remain on point.

We don’t like to repackage old ideas or restate the obvious.

Women need a stronger point of view.

It’s difficult to get a word in.

Women need to speak informally and off-the-cuff.

We like to put together presentations.

Women get defensive when they are challenged.

We obsess about a meeting for days after it’s over.

Women are more emotional than men.

It’s not emotion- it’s passion.

HE SAID, SHE SAID

SOURCE: Executive Presence, The Missing Link Between Merit and Success

COMMUNICATION BLUNDERS

High-Pitched or Shrill

Overreliance on notes or props

BoredomFoot-tapping

Doodling

Failure to Establish Eye

Contact

Rambling & Redundant

Crying

Constantly Device Checking

Breathlessness & Visible Trembling

SOURCE: Executive Presence, The

Missing Link Between Merit and

Success

SOURCE: Center for Talent Innovation, 2014

3 KEY ELEMENTS OF EXECUTIVE PRESENCE

gravitas(how you act)communication

(how you speak)

appearance(how you look)

67%28%

5%

TOP ASPECTS OF APPEARANCE

Youthful, Vigorous Appearance

Height (Being Tall

Sophisticated Clothing & Flair (Dressing for the next job)

Physically Attractive/Toned/Fit

Grooming & Polish

6%

6%

12%

19%

35%

4%

16%

13%

16%

38%

For Men For Women

SOURCE: Center for Talent Innovation, 2014

ONLINE IMAGE

78% Of professionals first search online for information on a new colleague or prospective hire

SOURCE: Center for Talent Innovation, 2014

20

APPEARANCE BLUNDERS

FOR MEN:Obese

Unkempt Attire

Visible Piercings/tattoos

Discolored/Crooked Teeth

Obvious Hair Piece

Dandruff on Shoulders

FOR WOMEN:Bottle Blonde

Plunging Neckline & Too-Short Skirts

Flashy Jewelry

Bitten/Broken Nails

Too Much Makeup

SOURCE: Executive Presence, The Missing Link Between Merit and Success

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

SEEK FEEDBACK

TAKE ONE ACTION

KNOW IT IS POSSIBLE

Managing Self

Leadership in Action

Managing Individuals

Team Effectiveness

Organizational Alignment

Balanced Leadership™Your Framework for Success

Executive CoachingCoaching clients for behavioral

changes that yield impactful business results.

Leadership Programs1-on-1 and team programs to

build skills and shorten paths to peak performance.

OUR APPROACH

WWW.EASTTENTHGROUP.COMMICHELLE@EASTTENTHGROUP.COM

646-809-0112

@MICHELLETENZYK

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/EASTTENTHGROUP

LINKEDIN.COM/COMPANY/EAST-TENTH-GROUP-INC-