How to Gain Stronger Executive Presence in the New Year

Even though we’re still in December, it’s not too early to begin planning for 2018. Let’s come out of the gate strong in the New Year!

I’ve written about how to obtain a stronger Executive Presence all year on my blog, and one common theme persists through all of them: Leaders lead. Whether or not they make mistakes (after all, we’re only human), they still lead.

This month, we’ll look at five ways in which you can step into your version of Executive Presence to start off 2018 strong.

Step #1: Define Executive Presence for Yourself

Everyone has a slightly different definition of what Executive Presence means to them; what does it mean to you? Once you have your description, you have something to work towards achieving.

Does Executive Presence mean more confidence? More productivity? Profit? Efficiency? It could be just a few or all of these things, but make sure you have a solid sense of what it means to you.

Step #2: Build on Your Strengths

Instead of focusing on your weaknesses (something that so many of us do), write out your strong suits and then take active steps to build on those. Most of the time our most active areas are the areas we enjoy most; for instance, if you’re a great planner and you enjoy mapping out a project plan, great! Focus on that area and find ways to take on more responsibilities.

Don’t know what your strengths are? Read Strengths Finder by Tom Rath.

Step #3: Acknowledge Your Flaws & Weaknesses

Don’t be afraid to admit where your weaknesses lie. The truth is that others around you can see them, anyway, so pretending like you have it all together will only make you look arrogant. When you acknowledge your weaknesses, you’re forced to delegate work to people who are better in that area, making you a more reliable leader.

Step #4: Hone Your Self-Awareness

Self-awareness means not only having the presence of mind to understand what you’re going through, but also having a sense of what other people are dealing with and what’s going on within the company. Who’s feeling overworked? In which direction is the company headed? What areas need to be improved?

Like driving a car, you must be aware of the other drivers as you move forward while still staying focused and keeping your eyes on the road.

Step #5: Project Poise & Authority

Push yourself to be a step above the rest of your workspace. Project an image of Executive Presence by dressing the part, acting the part, managing your emotions and finding the most effective ways to move the company forward.

When all these steps integrate into your work life, you’ll undoubtedly kick off 2018 to a great start. As you go about your day-to-day in the workspace, just check in with yourself and note which of these areas you have covered and which could use a little improvement for stronger executive presence.