The 3 skills behind executive presence
If you’ve been told you lack “executive presence” when you’re delivering a presentation, you know that something about how you’re coming across needs to change. What’s less clear is what, specifically, to work on. A leader I coached, whom I’ll call Michael, had been told he needed stronger executive presence. He communicated effectively with his team but was less effective with senior executives.…
Executive presence is a term used to describe effective communication skills, particularly when speaking to senior executives. It encompasses several factors that contribute to the ability to hold a room's attention and communicate effectively. In order to strengthen one's executive presence, there are three key areas to focus on: understanding the audience's needs, structuring the message, and preparing for Q&A.
First, it is crucial to assess the audience's needs. Leaders often fall short in this area by providing a list of initiatives without the strategic reasoning behind them. To address this, one must understand what the audience is responsible for achieving, what they are measured on, and the decisions, risks, or tradeoffs they need to consider. By tailoring the message to the audience's level, needs, challenges, and priorities, the speaker can ensure their message resonates with the intended audience.
Second, structuring the message is essential for advancing a decision or facilitating alignment. It is not enough to have the right judgment about what to include in the presentation; the structure must also support the main takeaway, recommendation, or ask. In the case of Michael, he led with details instead of the overall takeaway, causing his audience to struggle to grasp the implications of the initiatives. To avoid this pitfall, begin with the main takeaway and build a logical path from analysis to action or decision.
Finally, preparing for Q&A is often overlooked but is a crucial component of executive presence. Even with well-prepared content and framing, a presenter may struggle during the question-and-answer portion. To prepare for this, anticipate potential questions and objections from the audience and craft concise, clear responses. Practice with a colleague to gauge reactions, watch for signs of confusion or disagreement, and refine responses to maintain a composed and confident demeanor.
In conclusion, executive presence is not solely dependent on delivery, but rather the result of extensive preparation across multiple facets. By focusing on assessing the audience's needs, structuring the message, and preparing for Q&A, individuals can significantly improve their executive presence and effectively communicate with a wide range of audiences.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
