The Code
THE CODE
The only thing harder than defining Executive Presence is learning how to get it. Try scouring the Internet for articles, videos, or training. Chances are, you will be sorely disappointed with your results.
This is because most advice does not address the underlying mechanism that generates Executive Presence. Instead, it teaches you to mimic the behaviors of those who have it. Unfortunately, mimicry does not equal mastery.
In the alternative, ask someone you know who has Executive Presence. Chances are, they will give you some suggestions that seem to make sense, but once again none of them help you generate it yourself.
It’s as if those who have “it” either don’t want to share the secret or more likely, don’t know how to explain it — this is the Code of Executive Presence.
HOW DO YOU GENERATE IT?
To crack the Code of Executive Presence, it helps to clarify what we are talking about.
What makes someone seem like an executive and others not? The Medieval Latin root of executive is “exsequi,” which means “carry out.” So an executive is someone who carries out plans.
By presence we mean what people sense about you. We are all experts at sensing others’ presence. Think about a time a single person shifted the energy in a room when they came and went. They may have said or done very little, but their presence had a powerful impact.
Putting it all together, we come to the following definition of Executive Presence:
"Executive Presence is the ability to inspire confidence that you can lead well in a given situation."
The key to generating Executive Presence are the Six Degrees of Executive Presence - states of being that result in others feeling that you have Executive Presence. Each of these, used at the right moment, in the right way, reveals your leadership ability.