By Chris Petty, Owner of Express Employment Professionals & Specialized Recruiting Group of Central Oregon. 

Executive presence may seem like an elusive quality to embody, but cultivating an understanding of and refining your executive presence can distinguish you as an exceptional leader at any point in your career. Forbes describes executive presence as inspiring confidence in others, including your direct reports, peers, and leaders, that you’re qualified and capable of leading. This confidence can be achieved through these three pillars:  

This confidence can be achieved through these three pillars: 

• • • Gravitas – A leader’s ability to influence, inspire, and earn credibility and authority.  
  • • Communication – The effectiveness of a leader’s verbal and non-verbal communication to listen and articulate ideas. 
  • • Appearance – Beyond clothing and style choices, appearance is about carrying oneself with respect for themself and those around them.  

Why Executive Presence Matters 

According to research from Coqual (formerly the Center for Talent Innovation), 26% of what it takes to get promoted comes down to having executive presence. Exhibiting executive presence elevates all of your leadership qualities and validates the skills and characteristics that qualify you to lead.  

Executive presence inspires confidence in others. Inspiring your team to trust you as their leader can create the opportunity for mutual trust and confidence, empowering your team to achieve their full potential. For your career advancement, refining executive presence and the qualities it encompasses can give you an edge when preparing for your next move or pursuing new opportunities.  

Building Your Executive Presence  

Fortunately, the pillars that define executive presence are all skills that can be learned and polished. If your executive presence falls short, it can be improved through dedication and investing in professional development.  

Developing executive presence doesn’t happen all at once; it’s the cumulation of consistent and intentional skill building. As with any milestone you’d like to achieve, the first step is goal setting and putting those plans into action. Consider these tactics to develop or refine your executive presence: 

• • • Build a relationship with a role model or mentor who exudes the level of executive presence you’d like to exhibit.  
  • • Improve your understanding of emotional intelligence to better perceive the emotions of others and how they may perceive you.  
  • • Learn to influence and persuade others to engage with your ideas.  
  • • Use your leadership style to identify your strengths and weaknesses to outline the path to improving your executive presence.  
  • • Be aware of what you communicate with words and non-verbal cues like body language. 

Prioritizing executive presence can improve your leadership capabilities at any point in your career and propel you to the next level when you’re ready for a new challenge.