054 - The Three Pillars of Executive Presence: Gravitas, Communication, and Appearance

In this episode of The Present Professional, John and Tony discuss the concept of executive presence and its three pillars. They emphasize the importance of being in control of oneself and one's actions rather than relying on position or authority. To delve deeper into the topic, they recommend referring to the book "Executive Presence" by Sylvia Ann Hewitt. Tune in to learn more about cultivating executive presence and its impact on personal and professional development.

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Synopsis
Gravitas involves displaying confidence and courage, which are crucial for leaders to be a steadfast presence for their team. Communication is about clear and decisive expression, which is vital for gaining trust and ensuring the message is understood correctly. Appearance, while less emphasized, is still significant in aligning one's physical presence and behaviors with their leadership message.

Key topics include the importance of eliminating filler words to enhance clarity and decisiveness in communication. We share insights from a yoga teacher training exercise that heightened awareness of filler word usage. The power of strategic pauses and silence in presentations is also discussed, with an example of a leader commanding a room's attention by simply taking a moment to drink water.

Additionally, we highlight the value of leaders asking good questions and feeling confident in seeking clarification, thereby enhancing communication and leadership skills. The episode underscores the need to be aware of and actively work on these aspects to strengthen one's executive presence.

Quotes

• 00:01:17-00:01:27 - "I think the first thing that comes to my mind is understanding that you are in control."
• 00:05:26-00:05:37 - "leaders balance decisiveness with compassion."
• 00:07:30-00:07:40 - "this strength, this power, this confidence has to come from somewhere."
• 00:17:39-00:17:50 - "That had more of an impact on the communication piece of my executive presence than anything I've done in my life."
• 00:21:08-00:21:19 - "pause, pause, pause for silence."
• 00:23:35-00:23:46 - "Make them wait. Double down. I'm doubling down on what John just said. Make them wait."
• 00:30:24-00:30:35 - "The more polished your appearance... the better you are at being clear about what you want to communicate."
• 00:33:09-00:33:20 - "these pillars, once they're put in your awareness, if you're taking care of the foundation, they'll build themselves"