Executive Presence

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Guys come to me all the time asking about executive presence.

You would be shocked to know that there are even guys who were in the C-suite and senior vice presidents and vice presidents who come to me to enhance their executive presence.

Keep in mind that not everybody is the CEO of a Fortune 50 or Fortune 500 organization.

There are large-cap, mid-cap, small-cap, and even start-up senior executives.

However, you would be surprised how many organizations that are leading companies have people in senior leadership positions who still need to advance their executive presence.

While you may think you are wearing your wingtip Allen Edmonds shoes, your all-black custom-made suit, or the right cologne or haircut, that stuff is about 5% of what goes into being an executive.

Now don’t get it twisted; that 5% needs to be there. Not one percent, not 2%, not 3%—all 5% of looking at the part needs to be there.

But once you’ve got that down, to be honest, it’s really about what’s going on between your two ears and in your mind that enhances your executive presence.

So let’s get into the number one tool for enhancing your executive presence. It’s executive communication; it’s the ability to see your organization from the top down.

Think about it. An organization typically evaluates men in mid-level management and on the front lines based on how their work affects their team and, at the very least, how it affects their division.

But executives can see how their actions impact the stock price, bottom line, and market share of their entire organization. They can tell you how their actions will likely impact the opinions and votes of their board members. They’re familiar with their competitors’ new offerings, services, and senior leaders because those are their contemporaries and other organizations.

If you’re not aware of how your actions impact the overall culture of the organization, how your actions impact the various divisions of your company, and how your actions impact the stock price, market share, and bottom line of your company, you’re simply not talking, let alone thinking, like an executive, and you will not be seen as having an executive presence.

One of the best places you can go to begin to talk like an executive is the Wall Street Journal.

Why is the Wall Street Journal one of the best places you can go very cheaply to learn how to communicate like an executive?

It’s because they’re talking about titans of industry, company acquisitions, stock prices, the bottom line, and market share that other executives are discussing on a daily basis.

You will begin to think like that and talk like that, and when you are in the proverbial cigar lounge with other company top brass, you will be able to contribute information and perspectives that they are thinking about and already talking about.

If you’re not able to talk in these terms and in these ways, you will be seen as an outsider. If you’re in the C-suite or a VP role currently and lack it, you will be missing this significant ability.

While there are many other aspects to your executive presence, such as knowing your impact statement, your professional mission, your zone of genius, your personal story, your own values around diversity and inclusion, and your leadership style, knowing how to communicate like an executive is the number one skill set you need to have.

Written by Jewel Edward Love, Jr.

Founder and Executive Coach, Black Executive Men

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Contributors for the Wall Street Journal contacted me this week about an interview for a piece on corporate diversity and the executive coaches available to serve these leaders.

I will be a paid speaker at the EmERGe conference next week to discuss diversity approaches to employee resource group (ERG) mental health.

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