In “Executive Presence: The Missing Link Between Merit and Success,” Sylvia Ann Hewlett affirms that executive presence is “an amalgam of qualities that telegraphs that you are in charge or deserve to be.”

Fortunately, you don’t need to be born with executive presence. Although, you can find many of the same traits among effective facilitators—traits you can learn and strengthen.

Therefore, the following article explains executive presence and then provides five tips on how to improve your executive presence.

Executive Presence and Facilitation

Dr. Amy Cuddy’s research indicates that executive presence can be calculated. Indeed, her formula suggests that executive presence is a function of Credibility PLUS Ease DIVIDED BY Ego. Significantly, note in the equation below, a very remarkable way to increase executive presence is to reduce the ego. Chiefly, for facilitators and most leaders, that means avoiding the first person singular, “I” or “me.”

Defined: Executive Presence

In our complex, fast-paced world, it is vital to be noticed, heard, and trusted. Executive presence is the ability to radiate a sense of poise, confidence, decisiveness, and dignity. Similarly, executive presence derives from being authentic, building confidence in others, and inspiring others to take meaningful action. Therefore, Executive presence represents a persona that lets everyone around the person know that they are in charge, confident, and capable of leading others. Hewlett claims that executive presence develops from combining three factors:

• Gravitas (how you act)
• Communication (how you speak)
• Appearance (how you look)

When combined, they can make leaders and facilitators the galvanizing force of an organization. Subsequently, employees demonstrating these executive presence skills are often “fast-tracked” or found in leadership positions.

The Characteristics of Executive Presence

When you think of leaders you genuinely admire, most likely they exhibit traits and talents, such as…

• A talent for “painting” a clear vision
• Speaking in such a way that naturally attracts people
• Teaching others how to think: how to plan, how to prioritize, and how to solve problems
• They tell great stories
• They work calmly in high-stress situations

Each of the three sources found in the footnotes has its description of characteristics. Consequently, we’ll show you all of them in the following table and then combine their definitions, as appropriate.

The Characteristics of Executive Presence

Nine Dimensions	Eight Traits	Eleven Factors (Cuddy)
Personal	Character	Credibility
• Passion	Charisma	• Foundational: integrity, expertise, preparation
• Poise	Command	• Inflection patterns
• Self-confidence	Composure	• Speed of speech or using pauses
Communicative	Conciseness	• Vocal power and resonance
• Candor – communicative	Confidence	• Qualifiers, fillers, or “diminishers”
• Clarity – communicative	Connection	• Props or fidgets
• Openness – communicative	Credibility	Ease
Relational		• Foundational: diet, sleep, exercise
• Thoughtfulness		• Stability: grace under fire
• Sincerity		• Congruence: external or internal
• Warmth		• Connection with others
		• Authenticity: the ease of self-assurance

Dimensions of Executive Presence

The following, while not exhaustive, provides ample explanation for understanding the dimensions, traits, or factors of executive presence.

Candor or Credibility

Credibility refers to the language and resources that you use when providing information or direction. It also includes the methods by which you gather information and credit sources. People listen to an executive because of their powerful communication methods and because they believe they’re qualified to present the information. Being interested in truth and honesty, a willingness to accept and engage the organization’s environment as it is, not as you would like it to be.

Clarity or Conciseness

If you can’t articulate it clearly, then you are not ready to communicate it to others. Conciseness includes the ability to present all necessary details without overwhelming others. When possible, create your story and tell it in an intuitively clear and compelling way.

Openness or Character

Character refers to inner traits and values. Those with executive presence often have high emotional intelligence, helping them connect with the organization at all levels. Character also includes ethics and morals and how they influence your work. The willingness to remain neutral and consider other points of view without prejudging them.

Passion or Command

You convince others of your commitment to what you are saying and doing through expression, motivation, drive, and engagement. Your facial expression must match your message when your voice modulates pitch, volume, and pace. Ensure you only speak when making eye contact and manage your eye focus appropriately when communicating with more than one person.

Poise or Composure

An ability to control your emotions, recognize emotions in others and manage your response to them. Composure comprises self-awareness and the ability to present yourself in a disciplined yet engaging manner. A look of sophistication and unflappability that creates the impression you are comfortable in your surroundings and able to handle adversity.

Self-Confidence

Communicate confidence both in what you say and how you say it. Look the part. Choose your wardrobe and accessories carefully. There are many factors to confidence, including nonverbal communication skills and consistency among mannerisms when communicating with team members. An air of optimism and assurance that convinces others you have the required strength, resources, and resolve to initiate and to lead.

Sincerity or Credibility

Filler language such as “um,” “uh,” and “so” immediately detract from executive presence. As do minimizers like “just,” “sort of,” and “this may not be a good idea but…” When someone with a strong executive presence speaks, there is no doubt about the conviction behind their words and the thoughts driving them.

Thoughtfulness or Connection

Connection refers to the interpersonal skills you use to develop professional relationships and encourage productivity. Skills that foster teamwork and include the ability to adapt to new work styles while promoting effective communication.

Warmth or Charisma 

You develop warmth through active listening skills. The people you are communicating with need to know your focus is on them. They matter to you. Charisma represents an ability to engage others and encourage them to trust and rely on you. It relies on powerful communication skills, both verbal and nonverbal. Charisma includes the ability to narrow focus to a single situation and how it affects the goals of the organization. It encourages others to interact with you because you have become accessible to others, physically and emotionally.

The contributing factors above have little to do with the content. Instead, they focus on how you package content, question, or challenge it, and explain it through a story. A picture is worth a thousand words, a metaphor is worth a thousand pictures, and a story is worth a thousand metaphors.

FIVE TIPS FOR EXPERT FACILITATION

1. Communicate to Understand and Connect — Reflect the ‘Why’ behind the ‘What.’

Talking is only one part of the communication process. Decision-makers above you will take more notice of your listening skills. Usually, there is more than one right answer, and a good listener develops insight as to the conditions to support various outcomes. Executive presence demands that you control your emotions, sense emotions in others, and facilitate their understanding. Then manage their response. Since they need to own the answer, be open to feedback, engage in interactive communication, and with active listening, reflect the ‘WHY’ behind the ‘WHAT.’

2. Display Quiet Confidence with a Sense of Light-heartedness — It’s NOT thinking less about yourself, it’s thinking about yourself less often.

Be authentically “in the moment.” Welcome witticisms from others. Develop the ability to laugh at yourself. Light-heartedness is the universal language of leadership and confidence. Capturing your audience is not solely about charisma or extroversion. To some, charisma can even reflect a superficial, non-trustworthy characteristic. True confidence comes with undertones of humility. You don’t have to have the answer. You need a method or procedure to lead. It’s NOT thinking less about yourself, it’s thinking about yourself less often.

3. Emanate Conviction and Integrity — When you are honest about their flaws, you become more relatable and trustworthy.

Believe in what you’re saying. Stand, gesture, and move with energy and intention. Avoid body language that says, “I’m nervous” such as a furrowed brow. People trust those who do what they say they will do. They respect others who stand by their convictions and whose values cannot be shaken because they are deeply committed to doing the right thing for the right reason. People are drawn to those with executive presence because they are genuine. When you are honest about their flaws, you become more relatable and trustworthy.

4. Stress ‘WHY’ Before ‘WHAT’ —  If the ‘WHY’ is critically important to them, people become self-inspired.

Strategic thinking reflects how all the pieces in an organization are interdependent. Lead others with strategic questions. Focus on why and not who, what, or how. People with executive presence make it a practice to listen, observe, collect, and assess information. When you start your communication with a strong ‘WHY,’ you engage your participants based on their wallet share. If that ‘WHY’ is important to everyone, you should come across as passionate. If the ‘WHY’ is critically important to them, they become self-inspired.

5. Summarize and Apply Powerful Pauses — Take a breath, make eye contact, and be comfortable with the silence.

Use questions to drive consensual understanding. Then give their input a moment to ‘sink in’ before moving on. Take a breath, make eye contact, and be comfortable with the silence. Silence positions you as thoughtful and measured. Then vary your voice with your volume, pacing, pitch, inflection, pausing, and tone to stress inflection points. A lower, rather than higher, pitch connotes authority and expertise. Speaking too quickly reveals nervousness.

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While there are hundreds of articles on the topic and the importance of executive presence, here are a few either referenced above or that we found helpful:

1. https://www.harperbusiness.com/book/9780062246899/Executive-Presence-Sylvia-Ann-Hewlett/
2. https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_may_shape_who_you_are
3. https://www.selfleadership.com/blog/executive-presence-definition-strategy
4. https://www.executivepresence.com/what-is-executive-presence
5. https://www.inscapeconsulting.com/
6. https://www.corporateclassinc.com/what-is-executive-presence-training/
7. https://booherresearch.com/top-10-tips-to-increase-your-executive-presence-and-expand-your-influence/
8. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/executive-presence

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