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1-Page Summary of Executive Presence

Overview

The skills that got you to where you are today may not be the ones that will help you get ahead. In What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There (2007), author Marshall Goldsmith explains how to change your bad habits and develop good leadership qualities. It’s been said of Freddie Mercury of Queen that he drew people in with his presence when he performed on stage. His charisma was so strong it didn’t matter whether he was performing at a small venue or an arena; everyone would be drawn into his performance. That kind of presence is important for anyone who wants to succeed as a leader because just having education and experience isn’t enough if they don’t have executive presence. This section discusses what this means and how leaders can embody executive presence in order to achieve their goals.In these key points we’ll learn why executives like Bob Dudley from BP were able to save their companies from disasters by using their gravitas ; why some businesspeople use verbal ticks when speaking, which makes them less effective leaders ; and how listening carefully can make you more successful

Big Idea #1: If you want to be successful, you’ll need to develop executive presence.

To become successful, you need to convince people that you are the real deal. You can’t do that unless they believe in your abilities.

Whether you’re a banker, salesperson or musician, having executive presence is a prerequisite for success. It’s the mix of qualities that demonstrate that you are in command and deserve to be. Executive presence alone isn’t enough; it needs to be backed with substance.

The author regularly attends the final auditions of an international competition for young musicians. The applicant pool is narrowed down to 12 finalists who then compete before a very distinguished jury.

Of course, these young finalists wouldn’t have made it to the final round if they weren’t outstanding in their musical craft. But what separates one finalist from another is more than just music.

So what is that special trait that makes a person stand out? According to the guild president, it’s about how an artist walks across the stage; how her clothes are cut; and the emotion she shows.

A study from the University of Chicago shows that people have an easier time evaluating a person’s ability to lead when they’re not distracted by what he or she is saying. In this case, the researchers found that people who watched silent videos of pianists performing in international competitions were better at picking out the actual winners than those who watched videos and could hear music as well.

The same is true in the workplace. The author’s team at the Center for Talent Innovation conducted a survey to determine what traits make up executive presence. They found that three main pillars comprise executive presence: how you act (gravitas), how you speak (communication) and finally, how you look (appearance).

Big Idea #2: Executive presence is important for executives. It’s the ability to exude courage and confidence.

America has faced many crises in the past decade. The dot-com bubble burst, 9/11 happened, fraud scandals were uncovered and the mortgage meltdown occurred. It is no surprise that people praise leaders who are able to stay calm amid a crisis.

Consider America’s series of social crises over the past decade: the dot-com bubble, 9/11, fraud scandals, the mortgage meltdown. It’s no surprise then that people praise the ability of a leader who is able to stay cool, calm and convincing amid a crisis.