Building Leadership Presence

A POWERFUL podcast on Building Leadership Presence with Executive Leadership Coach,  Christina Zini.
In my role as an executive leadership coach, a recurring subject is the development of leadership and executive presence. Executive Presence (EP) is undeniably crucial for leaders in the boardroom to make an immediate impact and project authority. Yet, a broader concept is Leadership Presence (LP), which can be described as the ability to exert a lasting influence. Leaders require LP to motivate others towards establishing and realizing shared objectives. But what makes an individual captivating? Which combination of skills and qualities signals that a person is fit for leadership?

Is Executive Presence still relevant in today’s modern organization, and if so, what does it look like?  Has this image formula changed at all in the age of inclusion? 
 
In studies conducted by economist and researcher, Sylvia Ann Hewlett, found that the core principles of EP remained remarkably the same of the past 10 years despite the pandemic, social and political changes in the US and around the world and the rise of remote or Zoom work.  The core pillars of EP consist of:

1. How you act (gravitas)
2. How you speak (communication)
3. How you look (appearance

These pillars are not equally important and they are highly interactive. 

We have seen a shift to a more inclusive leadership presence.  Globalization has driven a focus on the diverse workforce and the benefits of tapping into underrepresented talent pools.  Generational change is causing us to reexamine biases, cultural and neuro diversity and what represents authenticity in a new way.   
The good news is that experts agree that executive presence is a ‘skill’ and not a ‘trait’. Executive presence, like leadership, is a skill that can be learned and has to be cultivated to become second nature.

My guest today is Christini Zini, a world renowned executive leadership coach, and she has been a guest on the podcast before.  Christina is a leadership coach with over 25 years of global experience in coaching and developing people and driving transformational change.  She built a successful career as a management consultant and professional development leader with PwC and IBM.

Her passion for helping people- particularly women- advance their careers and elevate their leadership is what prompted her to launch her own leadership coaching firm over a decade ago.

Christina has conducted thorough research to grasp the nuances of Leadership Presence, particularly for women and marginalized groups in the workplace. In this podcast, we delve into the three pillars of Leadership Presence and their essential elements, and how inclusive leadership has evolved. We offer actionable advice on how to develop your Leadership Presence for personal and professional growth.

Christina Zini, Leadership Coach & Light Liberator
https://christinazini.com/
[e-mail]

John Burt, Executive Leadership Coach
https://johnburtleadership.com
[e-mail]