Leadership Tips

In this episode I talk about part 7 of the 8 skills/behaviors of Executive presence: Thinking Strategically. Thinking strategically is a cornerstone of executive presence because it serves as a tangible demonstration of a leader’s competence and reliability. It showcases a leader’s ability to not only perceive the intricacies of complex situations but also to formulate effective action plans to address them.

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There are numerous memes and stories emphasizing that judging someone by their appearance is unwise, at the very least. That being said, it is human nature to form impressions quickly, usually within the first few seconds of meeting someone for the first time. While there are several factors that make up that first impression, such as facial expression, body language, voice quality, and some of the other skills/behaviors already discussed about executive presence, Professional Appearance is major factor.

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The fifth skill/behavior of executive presence is Emotional Intelligence. Emotional intelligence, the ability to understand and manage one's own emotions and intuit the emotions of others, is a crucial component of executive presence. Like Goldilocks testing the temperature of porridge, a "just right" level of emotional intelligence contributes to strong leadership. Check out Emotional Intelligence for Leaders.

In this episode I am recaping the first four parts of Executive Presence that I've discussed in previous episodes. I've chosen to do this as part of a conversation with Dr. Aaron Metzcar, a good friend and someone well acquainted with leadership. I hope you enjoy the conversation.

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Executive presence; what is it and how can one acquire it? Unfortunately you won’t find it on the shelf of even the most expensive stores. Rather, it can be seen in individuals who have found the sweet spot of eight different skills/behaviors; a confluence which is rare but attainable by anyone willing to put in the effort. In this episode the skill/behavior that will be covered is Gravitas. Check out the previous episodes in this series for a look at the first three skills/behaviors which contribute to executive presence.

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In this episode I will be discussing the 3rd skill/behavior of executive presence: Authenticity. Authenticity is a crucial element of executive presence, as it helps to establish trust and credibility. When leaders are genuine and true to themselves, they are more approachable, relatable, and trustworthy. This, in turn, allows them to connect with their team members and stakeholders on a deeper level, leading to better collaboration, communication, and results.

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Executive presence; what is it and how can one acquire it? Unfortunately you won’t find it on the shelf of even the most expensive stores. Rather, it can be seen in individuals who have found the sweet spot of eight different skills/behaviors; a confluence which is rare but attainable by anyone willing to put in the effort. In part one of this series, I set the stage for understanding the importance of acquiring executive presence and described the first of those eight skills/behaviors, along with what that skill looks like when it is too little represented or too much.

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Executive Presence is that elusive quality which identifies one person as a leader over another, regardless of the title. In these episodes I will describe the eight core skills/behaviors of executive presence and how to acquire them.

Adversity always seems to come at an unexpected time, from an unexpected source, or both. When it does come the effect is disruptive. It has the power to throw us off balance even if we have an inkling of its impending arrival.

You can prepare for adversity, at least to some extent and in this episode I'll share my personal experience.

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In the last episode I spoke about the necessity of urgency for achieving success. Let me recap the main point: If you can create a sense of urgency for your organization or yourself, and sustain the sense of urgency, you can achieve success. If you cannot generate a sense of urgency, then all the strategic planning in the world will not help you achieve your goals.

Without a sense of urgency focused on the right things, apathy and eventually failure are the norm. Urgency is the difference between success and mediocrity. According to John Kotter’s research, as much as 70% of the change initiatives undertaken by businesses either fail or do not achieve their full potential and the most likely culprit is a lack of a sense of urgency

However, I did not describe HOW to create a sense of urgency, either for yourself or for your organization. That is what I intend to do in this episode focusing on the barriers to urgency found in “Leading Change” by John Kotter.

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