Provided by Alyssa Gelbard, Founder & CEO, Point Road Group
Executive presence isn’t just the “it” factor observed when someone walks into a room and naturally commands attention. Leaders can set themselves apart and communicate strong executive presence through skillful virtual communications. Here are three quick tips to ensure you lead with authenticity, empathy and gravitas in any setting.
Keep Calm & Lead On When others look to you for direction in the middle of a crisis, do you instill confidence or confusion? Build trust with others through open and clear dialogue, acknowledging what you know and don’t know. Proactively communicate with key stakeholders wherever they are. Take the time to listen to concerns, address challenges and share solutions that are underway. Displaying empathy as well as decisive leadership is essential to instilling team confidence in you even when things (like monthly forecasts to workplace capacity limits) are in flux.
- Optimize Impressions
Turning on your video is like walking into an office or conference room. How you present yourself on screen impacts impressions just as much as when you meet in-person, if not more so. The closeup view of your face and upper body puts personal style, body language and mannerisms under scrutiny. And factors like lighting, sound and background visuals influence what people think too. You may be a natural in a room and can easily establish rapport with others, but flounder a bit when it comes to meeting people on screen. Optimize your video setup and delivery to enhance your credibility and likeability as well as strengthen your confidence and authority.
- Respond & Follow Through
Collaborative platforms like Slack or Teams, as well as email, are critical for communication, productivity and corporate culture especially when teams are distributed. As a corporate leader, set an example for the rest of the company by modelling responsiveness and balancing priorities. Following through on promises, deliverables, introductions etc. in a timely manner reflects positively on character, reliability and trustworthiness and drives business forward.
Leaders who build strong executive presence are well positioned to advance their careers because the combination of character qualities and interpersonal behaviors helps them stand out, build trust and develop better relationships. Those who adapt and sharpen their executive presence for virtual situations will stay relevant and influential to drive further success.
This adapted from “How To Strengthen Executive Presence When Working Remotely” (https://pointroadgroup.com/strengthen-executive-presence-remotely/). View the original article for more executive presence tips and insights.