Executive Presence

“Executive Presence”

What makes for dynamic, engaging and effective leaders? Being able to convey that you’re in charge – just by walking into a room – requires a unique blend of self-possession, charm and authenticity. This is executive presence (EP), and great leaders, such as US president Barack Obama and the late British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, have it, as does actress Angelina Jolie, Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg, Virgin’s Richard Branson and Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt. Executive presence isn’t something you’re necessarily born with, but you can develop it.

The author’s research firm, the Center for Talent Innovation, conducted several studies, including focus groups, interviews and an extensive national survey to identify the qualities that make up executive presence. The three elements of EP, while not of equal weight, remain consistent across different fields and contexts. They are:

1. “Gravitas – How You Act”

About two-thirds of the senior executives surveyed rated gravitas as the most important ingredient in EP. Every great leader has gravitas. After the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, BP managing director Bob Dudley projected...