How do I want to be perceived in the new year?
When a new year begins, it is a time for self-reflection and rebirth. With that, it is important to reflect not only on our successes and failures, but also on how we react to certain events and how our actions were perceived by others. In other words, we must be aware of our executive presence.
Executive presence isn’t just about what we wear, although that’s part of it. Others make judgments and / or criticisms of the people they meet only on the basis of their attractiveness. A well-dressed person is perceived as successful, while someone who wears outdated and ill-fitting clothing may be viewed negatively. As an example, assumptions are made about job search candidates based on their LinkedIn profile photo.
However, executive presence is much more than that. It also encompasses our speech, our gestures, and our personality in general. Projecting trust is also a component of it. The way a person crosses a room to greet someone speaks volumes, even before the person utters a word. It is also the way an individual interacts in a meeting. Do you want to have a voice at the table or just be a voice on the wall? Do you want others to take over the conversation or do you want your opinions to be heard?
Another aspect of executive presence is our gestures. Do you have bad habits that affect your job performance? Things like being late for meetings, interrupting, and missing deadlines are just a few ways that can affect how others perceive you. Ignoring details and not planning properly can also have a negative impact on your reputation.
To combat all of this and create the executive presence you want, you must first have clarity. Take the time to reflect on when others responded positively to you and when they didn’t. Ask others how they perceive you and ask them to identify the areas you need to work on. Also review past performance reviews that will highlight your competencies, as well as suggest ones you need to work on.
Executive presence also includes who you interact with. Your connections are a very important part of who you are, which is why it is important to be around people who encourage you rather than depress and hold you back. It is always enriching to be around those who exude confidence and energy, as well as wanting to help others rather than just focusing on themselves. By giving more of ourselves and showing gratitude, we can be seen as a positive influence on others.
Lastly, we need to be consistent, which can be the hardest part of our executive presence. We need to recognize our triggers that can affect our emotions, our habits that can negatively affect our performance, and the way we communicate, which can send mixed messages. By being more aware of our actions, we can strive to continually improve our personality in front of others.