What comes to mind when you think of an executive leader, such as a CEO in your current organization, and what makes them successful? Could it be a certain level of maturity, self-confidence, or the way in which he or she “carries themselves”?

A term that comes to mind is “executive presence.” Executive presence is that “wow factor” that shows a strong ability to influence others, command the respect of a room, have strong poise and confidence, and stay calm under pressure.

“It” is the most important skill and gravitas when it comes to being an effective leader.

So why do some job seekers or current leaders have “it” and others do not? Being able to recognize and develop some of the key elements of executive presence may just help you land your next big job come interview time.

Executive Presence Case Studies
Let’s start with the story of George. George is a hard worker and someone who is very productive, decisive, and results-oriented. He has been successful in driving innovative, high-value products into the market. George is a big asset to the team, having sealed multiple business partnership deals. However, George has felt stuck in his same marketing and business development role for the past few years, never having been promoted in his current company.

Although George is an effective communicator, he tends to ramble during important board meetings, where his visibility is at its highest. His main point is often diluted out, and it sends some mixed signals. The CEO at one point thought to himself, “This is never someone I could bring with me to pitch to investors.”

Additionally, when George is asked to defend his ideas, his body language shows a bit of defensiveness, almost as if he was uncomfortable “being cornered.” His superiors had high hopes for George, expecting him to stand his ground, think on his feet, and push back when needed. Although George is extremely knowledgeable on his subject matter, he fell short in having “it”.

A second story is that of John, an ambitious R&D leader with a strong track record leading large scale and diverse research teams. As a senior director for the past few years, he has made a name for himself in his current company and has gained respect from his team as an insightful thought leader.

However, as someone who is a bit overly agreeable, he is not as “headstrong,” when the going gets tough. Sometimes John doesn’t like to “rock the boat,” as they have always done things a certain way. Some even say that John is perceived as being too soft-spoken and nice.

Contrast this to Amanda, who comes off as an “under the radar” type of leader, going unnoticed at first. Amanda listens attentively in a large group meeting, digesting all the information. However, when she speaks, there is just something about her charisma, her body language, and her genuineness. She has a certain level of self-confidence, and her statements carry weight. People pay attention to what she has to say. Not only is she strategic in her timing, she articulates her ideas well. She is organized, short and concise, and maintains a calm and collected mannerism.

In this important group meeting, Amanda suggests solutions be incorporated and adopted, which are well received. As a result, she is given the opportunity to develop, lead, and execute these ideas successfully, making a big impact on the company in the next coming years.

Amanda is promoted to executive vice president, and within three years, she makes her next big move as chief technology officer.

So, what made her stand out from all the others? All three leaders had excellent track records, deep scientific knowledge, and were highly respected managers and leaders in their field. These executives all “clicked” with their team and the company culture. However, it came down to one ultimate factor, executive presence. Amanda simply had more of “it”.

Elements that make up Executive Presence
According to an executive coaching firm, Bates Communication, there are three dimensions of executive presence based on their assessment model. Holistically, these all work together to motivate, influence, and inspire others, and ignite the “push” for action.

Character for example, spans integrity, humility, courage, and temperament. Substance, which can be more easily developed over time, includes things such as wisdom, confidence, composure, and vision. Having substance also means being “in tune” with the needs of others, being strategic with stakeholders, and having maturity in social situations. Style involves not only appearance, but also the “way in which you do things,” including assertiveness, mannerisms, and interpersonal behavior.

These three things need to work together in order to have well-rounded executive presence. Certainly, an executive leader may need to work on making sure one of these is not left unchecked.

Ways to Increase Your Executive Presence Getting Feedback
First, it takes a certain level of self-confidence and assertiveness to gather feedback from those you can trust. As I wrote about in a previous article, “Finding Your Inner Leader,” 360-degree feedback will help you identify areas of needed improvement, so you can further develop your executive strengths and grow.

A colleague of mine recently received team member feedback, helping him to get to the bottom of what may have been holding him back. As first impressions are very important, his teammates highlighted that he had many positive attributes with a likeable high energy.

However, some of his teammates stated that his energy needs to be a bit more tempered, taking time for a pause when speaking. Additionally, they felt they should be allowed to engage more. It became clear my colleague could benefit by asking more open-ended questions, and allowing people to express themselves. This in turn will foster more engagement, trust, and enthusiasm from the team.

Checking Your Style
Just as you have your own image or “brand” within a company, you need to make sure it aligns with your self-confidence. Dress and grooming should be checked, because although this isn’t the “complete picture,” you don’t want something simple holding you back.

Your professional image should be maintained at the office, at conferences, with business partners, or at customer meetings. Your dress should also follow in the same manner and fit the culture and the current situation.

Harnessing Your Body Language
According to a researcher and Professor of Psychology, Albert Mehrabian, body language makes up the majority of how we communicate (55%), followed by tone of voice (38%) and words (7%).

Additionally, a survey conducted by Career Builder and Adecco indicated that 67% of hiring managers cite lack of eye contact as the biggest mistake a candidate can make during a job interview. 26% of applicants get rejected because of fidgeting too much. Having a weak handshake can also put you in the bottom tier, and 39% of interviewers are put off by a candidate who fails to smile.

Although these pitfalls may seem like “rookie mistakes,” they can sometimes go amiss. Focus on maintaining good posture, and using active gesturing to come across as enthusiastic, warm, and engaged.

The key is to evaluate your effectiveness in getting your point across and connecting with an audience at any level. When body language matches your words, you come across as credible, convincing, and trustworthy to truly make an impact as an executive leader.

Improving Your Presentation and Communication Skills
How is your ability to convey an important idea or finding, or give a scientific talk in a clear and concise manner without all the technical jargon? Clarity is needed for not only public speaking or large audiences, but also when addressing a room full of executives. It is important to always know your audience and adapt your talk as needed.

Executive presence means your talk is well polished, and you come off as “cool and in command.” There should be a level of comfort with answering questions and an openness for discussion. When nerves are running high, talks may not go as expected. You can battle this nervousness by showing up well-prepared and informed.

Concentrate on being authentic, capitalizing on your passion for your work, and enthusiasm. Even if you are an introvert by nature and are not someone who is normally high energy and charismatic, you can integrate certain elements of charismatic personality into your executive presence.

Building Your Confidence and Finding Your Voice
As you gain more confidence and progress in your career, how you describe and develop your “voice” as an executive will become increasingly important. Think of your assets, strengths, and skills in order to leverage and grow your voice as an executive leader. Aligning your personal values with company values will also add to your motivation, productivity, and success.

There is no single approach to developing executive presence, as each leader needs to find the right “formula” that works for them. This should help put your mind at ease, as you focus and develop your executive presence that is tailored to you, and no one else.

Finally, remember to be yourself and not always get fixated on having the “right answers.” Your goal is to come across as a credible problem solver who makes a big impact on an organization through your executive presence. As you continue to lead by example and influence, instill confidence in others and grow your executive presence, new and exciting opportunities will follow as you advance in your career.