Some years ago an senior exec I was coaching asked this question.
'Where's the grief?' I asked him.
'My boss says I'm not ready for the really big time... because I don't have executive presence. So what exactly is this thing? I mean is it just the question of what I wear? My car? The club I go to?'
That got me thinking hard about this subject. Looks like a lot of people get stymied and never make it beyond a certain level.
Executive Presence is a lot more than your clothes. Sure you need a well tailored suit, good grooming and well polished shoes. Necessary, but not sufficient. Just the externals won't cut it. In fact your need 'Aura'. In this next series, I'll cover what makes some people command a room and others merely look like furniture.
First things First. Own your mind! That means you need to "size up and speak up." What's your take of the situation? Have you done the homework, the analysis, the thinking? Enter every meeting with a point of view (POV). What are the top 2 or 3 things you want to say? You don't have to be loud about it either. State your views clearly and invite comment. Display strength and openness.
Or do you wait to see which way the wind will blow before you weigh in with your call? If that's what you're doing too often, then its way too safe - and extremely risky for your career. People at senior levels are always scanning for promising people and asking a question "Is this person executive material?"
To build your Aura - Size up the situation and speak up!
