INSIGHTS (on leadership/self-leadership)
It’s a dilemma – you want to have executive presence, but you’re introverted. Huge challenge, right? Not necessarily. Some of the leaders with the most executive presence I’ve ever seen, were introverts. They commanded the room and commanded respect, and built a reputation as someone to follow, without having a loud, brash style. You can too, by considering the following.
1. Know that executive presence comes from energy, not noise.
Say the words “executive presence” to someone, and first thing they picture is often a wildly charismatic extrovert, owning the room with a combination of brashness and charm. But that’s not necessarily executive presence, which isn’t one-size-fits all. It doesn’t require that you be dynamic and loud. It’s about what I call, “tailored charisma,” showing energy and enthusiasm, in your own way.
For example, as an introvert, it’s likely much easier to show your energy and charisma by being genuinely interested in others, listening well, asking good questions, and expressing passion for ideas – your own or someone else’s. You can exude a quiet, calm confidence that is just as compelling and inspiring as that exuded by your louder counterparts. By the way, if you are indeed soft-spoken, work on projecting your voice just 20 percent louder; it can make a big difference.
2. Turn introvert superpowers into powerful presence.
Introverts tend to excel at several things in particular; active listening, empathy, thoughtful reflection, and observation. Taking these one at a time, when you actively listen, people feel heard by you, a huge magnet that draws people to you. When you show empathy, people feel cared for, which also draws them to you. When you’re thoughtful and reflective before speaking, it gives you the opportunity to think about what you’re going to say before you say it, which can translate into a clarity and conciseness advantage you’d have over plenty of extroverts. (Being clear and concise are essential for executive presence) And by quietly observing, you’re better suited than most to read the room, pay attention to the mood, emotions, and what’s on people’s minds, and adjust your approach accordingly. That fosters tremendous executive presence.
3. Come from a place of conviction.
While introverts can excel at listening, they might worry about being heard. That’s why it’s so important when you speak to come from a place of conviction. Believe in what you have to say, backed by the careful analysis and thinking you’ve been ruminating on in the background. Conviction connotes confidence and decisiveness, and bolsters credibility if you can back it up. All are essential to executive presence.
4. Be assertive versus aggressive.
Extroverts can be aggressive in speaking up, ensuring that their point of view is known and accommodated. But you don’t have to be aggressive, just assertive. When you’re comfortable making your point of view known, just be assertive about it. The first person who speaks, and speaks loudest, does not necessarily have the most executive presence.
To further clarify, by assertive, I don’t mean be overbearing or arrogant. Just believe you have plenty worthwhile to share and that you’re there to contribute, speak up, and lead thinking, as opposed to being wallpaper, sitting meekly in the corner without saying a word. It’s about providing a quality of presence that adds value to meetings, draws favorable attention, and makes a memorable impression, without over-asserting yourself.
IMPERFECTIONS (a mistake many make)
I was recently in LA and saw this very cool mural in the works.
“LA 28’ – No Time to Lose.” The fact that Nike chose Kobe Bryant for the message makes perfect sense, it’s exactly the way he would have thought about it. Yes, the Olympics were literally just handed over to LA from Paris. And yes, it’s still four years away.
And yes, the time to get to work, is right now. The Mamba mentality.
But most of us aren’t Kobe in that sense. It’s a very natural imperfection to think you have more time than you do. To repair that relationship. To make that career change. To take that vacation to Rome. To take that risk you’ve been mulling over for years.
So, my message here is simple. Ask yourself, “For what in my life is there no time to lose? What have I been putting off, parking in dream mode, assuming ‘someday,’ about?” While the stakes might not be the same as winning a gold medal or not, moving on it right now just might yield a more important victory. Your best life lived.
IMPLEMENTATION (one research-backed strategy, tip, or tool)
Who better to talk about how to motivate teammates than 7-time Super Bowl winner, Tom Brady? He did talk about it, to Harvard Business Review. You can follow his 3 crisp tips, too, to create your own championship team (edited for brevity and my own point-of-view).
1. Team first, always.
Support overall success over your own. In my own experience, when you put yourself above the team, people will remember it (and not in a good way), so there can be no breaches.
2. Appreciate the under-appreciated.
It’s easy to recognize the star players – and you should. It takes work to recognize the everyday heroes – and you shouldn’t miss the opportunities to do so.
3. Set the standard.
Show up how you want the team to show up. As a leader, you live your life in a fishbowl, with many eyes on you at all times, watching from all angles. Your words and actions carry weight well beyond the here-and-now. And be crystal clear on expectations, framing criticism relative to those clear expectations you hold the team accountable for.
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