By Rose O. Sherman, EdD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN
A nurse manager recently spoke with me about a conversation with her CNO. Her long-term goal is to become a nurse executive. Her CNO seemed less than enthusiastic about her potential. When she asked why, the CNO told her she needed to work on her executive presence if this was her goal. The manager left the conversation, not sure how to proceed. She is not alone in feeling this way about this feedback. Executive presence is an intangible quality in leadership. It is when leaders command respect with their presence or having the “it” factor.
This quality can seem somewhat elusive. Some leaders are naturally born with executive presence, but others need to work on cultivating it. The higher you go in leadership – the more crucial executive presence will become as a selection factor. Suppose your goal, like the manager above, is to be promoted to an executive role. In that case, you need to practice these behaviors BEFORE you seek the position, as these qualities will be assessed during the interview process.
What is Executive Presence?
Sylvia Hewlitt is a researcher and author of the popular book Executive Presence. She noted that EP is an amalgam of qualities that true leaders exude, a presence that telegraphs you’re in charge or deserve to be. Articulating those qualities isn’t easy, however. From her studies, she has identified three components of executive presence:
The first and most important is How You Act and whether you demonstrate gravitas in your role. Leaders with gravitas are knowledgeable, confident, and decisive. They avoid apologizing when there is no need to. They avoid using statements like, “This is just my opinion” or “I am no expert on this.” They project confidence and self-assurance even when they may not feel it. They are upbeat when asked how they are doing. They understand the importance of building credibility by being consistent, reliable, and dependable. They are willing to make decisions in the face of uncertainty and risk. They remain true to their values, and their staff know what they stand for. They are attuned to office politics but don’t over-engage in it. They exercise grit in the face of uncertainty and challenges. They know setbacks are part of life and work hard to be resilient.
The second component of executive presence is How You Speak. Leaders exhibiting executive presence are good communicators, both verbally and non-verbally. They carefully watch how well they connect with their audience, keep their communication brief, and look for ways to engage others. They listen more than they talk. They accept feedback diplomatically even if they disagree with it. They don’t lash out with communication. They work hard to clarify their messages and understand that they must keep repeating themselves to make their communication sticky. They watch their digital body language.
The third component is How You Look or your dress, appearance, and grooming. This is the least important of the three, but Hewitt points out that these flash judgments are made quickly, within 250 milliseconds, and once made, they tend to stick. Body language matters, and leaders with executive presence work hard to convey confidence and optimism. They smile more than frown. Their clothes, style, and makeup convey the polish of a C-suite executive. They pay attention to the dress code and norms in different situations. They understand that overdressed is usually better than under-dressed in their work role. Their desk and office are organized and convey a sense of calm, not calamity.
Cultivating Executive Presence
Fortunately, executive presence can be cultivated if you are willing to learn new habits and work at them. Here are some essential action steps:
1. Find a coach. We often have blind spots about ourselves, and only through the eyes of others can we get a clearer picture. Find someone who you respect who demonstrates executive presence and ask for their help.
2. Dress the part. It is often said that if you desire an executive role, you should begin dressing like one even before you seek the position.
3. Become influential. Study leaders who exude a “wow” factor and can easily influence others. You must have a point of view and be willing to express it in a way that respects the opinions of others and engenders trust.
4. Develop your emotional intelligence. Leaders need to control their emotions and maintain their composure when confronted with challenging situations. Grace under pressure is a skill that needs to be cultivated.
5. Exude confidence. To be taken seriously in any executive leadership role, you need to believe in your own abilities, use authoritative tones, and display positive body language by standing tall, shaking hands, and making eye contact.
Most of us grow and develop some executive presence on our leadership journey. But we can also jump-start this quality by being much more intentional about how we are perceived. Fortunately, the manager in the story above received critical feedback about her lack of executive presence from her CNO early in her career. She can now build that into a leadership development plan to prepare when interviewing for that first CNO role.
Read to Lead
Hewlitt, S.A. Executive Presence. New York: Harper Collins; 2014.
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