In times past, the most successful business leaders have been ‘control and command’ drill sergeants, micromanaging their underlings, barking orders and expecting a cowering workforce to comply.

For years this was how it was because this was how it had always been, but at some point – impossible to know when but probably sometime in the early 1990s – things changed. Or at least they started to change.

The shouty megalomaniac dinosaur who takes credit for everything slowly began to be replaced by leaders with executive presence.

But what is executive presence? Can it be learned or does it come naturally? Why is it important in the modern workplace?

The Definition of Executive Presence

Sylvia Ann Hewitt defines executive presence as gravitas (how you act), communication (how you speak), and appearance (how you look). And she should know. She’s the author of Executive Presence: The Missing Link Between Merit and Success. She got her PhD in Economics at the University of London after completing her undergrad degree at Cambridge, and she has taught at Princeton and Columbia universities. She has also held a fellowship at the Center for the Study of Values in Public Life at Harvard.

When she talks about leadership development, you listen.

Looking at the definition of executive presence in a little more detail, it is the ability to command attention and exude authority. To portray essential leadership qualities, to work confidently under pressure and to act decisively. To be gracious, tactful, assured and charismatic.

As executive coach Kris Verlé put it, Those who have it behave with a certain je-ne-sais-quoi – the workplace equivalent of the X-factor in showbiz.

We’ve all seen leaders whose mere presence commands respect and attention simply by walking into a room. Conversely we’ve all seen leaders who struggle to find the right words, who flounder, who won’t make eye contact and command little more than pity and an ‘ah, bless,’ reaction.

Which one would you rather be?

How to Develop an Executive Presence

Executive presence isn’t a fake-it-till-you-make-it thing. It’s not an elusive quality that some leaders have and others don’t. It can be learned, but most importantly, it must be honed. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution.

Let’s look at Sylvia Ann Hewitt’s three pillars of executive presence. They’re simpler than you think.

Gravitas

A Latin word meaning ‘seriousness of conduct, temperament or speech’, gravitas, or how you act, is demonstrated in a number of ways. One way is your ability to handle adversity. In the workplace, adversity comes in many forms, but in whatever way it manifests itself, an ability to remain poised and in control, as well as, if necessary, owning your errors. Be inspiring, capable and worthy of trust, and demonstrate your abilities and your authority without boasting about them. No-one likes a show-off.

Gravitas is also displayed through decisiveness and assertiveness and having the courage of your convictions, but don’t fall into the trap of aggression or authoritarianism. If you listen to what people around you are saying and learn from them, you’ll, not only command respect, you’ll be best placed to take the right course of action.

Emotional intelligence, or EQ, is another important trait of executive presence. Understanding how your emotions can affect those around you and being aware of the feelings and requirements of others – both professionally and if need be, personally – is a vital element of having executive presence. Be authentic, engage honestly with your teams and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

Communication

For many, how you speak is more important than what you’re saying. People are drawn to people who communicate with passion, and as a leader, being able to engage with your teams and express your thoughts, ideas and vision is an important part of executive presence.

Speak with confidence and be persuasive. Know what you want to say and how you want to say it and build a connection with the people you’re addressing. Present yourself as someone who the group will have no choice but to like, rather than walking in like the big ‘I am’ and shouting the odds.

But there needs to be a balance. You’re the leader. You’re in charge. You need to be clear about what you’re asking of your teams without being bullying or intimidating. You can be assertive and empathetic at the same time. You can demand excellence while being mindful of the needs of others.

More practically, speak up, maintain eye contact, get to the point without waffling, and try not to use fillers like ‘um…’, ‘basically’ or ‘is that OK? You’re telling, not asking, but you can do it in a way that makes people want to work for you, not feel like they’ve got no choice.

Appearance

Unfortunately, we do judge books by their covers. We do. And we don’t like to admit it. Even if the book is Nobel Prize worthy, if it looks like a tatty second-hand paperback we instantly lose interest.

There’s no getting away from it, What you wear is important. The old adage of ‘dress for the job you want, not for the job you’ve got’ is true. No-one’s saying you have to go out and spend thousands on the best designer suits, ties, shirts, skirts or shoes, but one element of Hewlett’s studies suggests that looking smart, groomed and polished has a far greater impact than height, weight, youth or physical attractiveness. If you demonstrate respect for yourself and by extension, your teams, in return that respect will be reciprocated.

The Benefits of Executive Presence in the Modern-Day Workplace

Having executive presence isn’t about the pursuit of power or winning a popularity contest. It’s about being able to cope with the constantly shifting dynamics and challenges faced by twenty-first century businesses.

A recent white paper called Leading With Presence from Roffey Park, a UK and Singapore-based leadership institute, found that elements of mindfulness, specifically being present in the moment, can help leaders to work with, rather than over, those in their charge.

The study suggests that leaders and managers with executive presence have the ability to cope more easily with challenges by demonstrating –

• clarity of thought and perception
• ways to handle conflict with courage, sensitivity and conviction
• a focus on higher or more pressing priorities
• leadership with passion and energy
• a sense of calmness when dealing with change
• an openness to new and exciting opportunities
• an assured confidence in their own views

The Missing Link

Executive presence is, according to Sylvia Ann Hewitt, the missing link between merit and success. It’s how you let others know that you’re destined for the top. It’s your personal brand, a measure of who you are.

In today’s businesses, it’s not enough that you hit every target, meet every deadline and smash every quarterly figure. You need that certain je ne sais quoi.