Communication is a Key to Executive Presence
"The art of communication is the language of leadership." - James Humes
This week on Learning to Lead Live we continued to unpack the complexity of Executive Presence discussing the power and opportunity within the art of communication.
Communication is not so much what you say but how you say it, and this you can condition and control to determine what your listeners take in and what overall impression of you they will retain as a result.
No matter your job title or how junior or senior your role is, you are always conveying who you are, whether it is in a quick email, a casual hallway conversation, or a presentation. Every encounter (in person or virtual) is a vital opportunity to create a positive impression and your communication skills (verbal and non-verbal) are what win the attention of others
In a research study with senior leaders, the top communication traits identified were (in order of importance):
Superior speaking skills
Ability to command a room
Forcefulness and assertiveness
Ability to read the room
Sense of humor and ability to banter
Body language and posture
As you can see, it is not just one aspect that is necessary for executive presence and communication but can be boiled down to:
How powerfully do you connect with your audience?
How quickly can you engage your listeners?
How long can you keep their attention?
Is your topic of intrinsic interest?
In a 2012 analysis researching what makes a speaker persuasive, the findings were: Passion (27%), voice quality (23%), presence (15%) & content (15%).
So how can you become a strong communicator? Let’s explore the top communication traits:
Superior speaking skills: Pay attention to how you speak. How articulate are you (can something be said more succinctly?), are there any crutches (uh um, you know)? Start by practicing self-awareness and pay attention to how you speak, consider listening to a recording of a presentation. Be kind and explore opportunities to grow with kindness.
Ability to command a room: Leaders command a room with great speaking skills, confidence, and compelling charisma. Focus first on your physical presence, take up space and place yourself squarely in your seat. Be present and lean into conversations, and if you find yourself getting nervous, remember to pause and breathe.
Forcefulness & assertiveness: Being assertive creates a sense of confidence and competence, including being calm, which can be a powerful attribute. Remember you are always being watched. What behavior are you modeling? Are you fidgeting, or distracted? Be present, and be direct.
Ability to read the room: Assess the audience to get sensory cues to understand how the audience is feeling and how engaged they are. First, make sure you know your content, then you will be able to adjust and adapt to what cues you are picking up on in the room. This skill can take time to develop and requires high emotional intelligence.
Sense of humor and ability to banter: Humor allows leaders to connect, diffuse tension, elevate status, and foster trust. Weave in personal stories, and break the ice to connect with your audience.
Body language and posture: Leaders with strong executive presence use their body language and posture to reinforce their messages in a genuine way. Begin paying attention to your own body language and posture. Pay attention to the things you may do unconsciously so you can make adjustments.
CLOSING:
Communication is a fundamental leadership skill and the foundation for executive presence. It is how leaders connect to people. Communication is one of the first ways people perceive you and make judgments about your presence and competence as a leader. Unfortunately, most people do not use all the communication techniques available to them and instead rely on what they are most comfortable with.
When communicating at the leadership level, you aren’t just trying to make your point, you are trying to make sure your message reaches and s received by your audience.
Command and vision coupled with engagement and passion fill a room and leave a lasting impression.
“Leadership is a way of thinking, a way of acting and, most importantly, a way of communicating.” - Simon Sinek
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Resources
Tech Up For Women Conference San Diego - October 6, 2022:
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Ted Women Online Event - October 24-28, 2022: An online festival offering interviews with leading women on change, on work, on rights, on joy and on the future.
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