6 ways to instantly boost your executive presence during your next meeting
Executive presence is essential for your professional success. The three pillars of executive presence are gravitas, communication, and appearance.
There are lots of ways to build up your executive presence over time. But what if you could get an instant boost? Try these 6 strategies at your next meeting to experience a surge in your confidence and see how your ideas are received with respect.
Command respect by improving your gravitas
When you think of gravitas, do you imagine an older man commanding a room, probably wearing a suit and tie? That’s the classic view of gravitas, but luckily, gravitas is more egalitarian than that. It’s more like a combination of self-assuredness, preparedness, and attention. Here are two ways to quickly build your gravitas.
Have a clear point of view on the issue at hand. Before you go into the meeting, take 10 minutes to gather your thoughts about the questions on the agenda. Think about your role in the organization and how the various solutions would affect you. What do you know that others don’t? Based on your knowledge, what do you think is the right next step? Jot down your thoughts and be ready to share them. This preparation will give you a sense of confidence and assertiveness that will be noticeable in the meeting.
Ground your body as you speak during the meeting. Sit up straight, roll your shoulders back, and put your feet flat on the floor. These postural changes do two things. First, you appear more confident to other people in the meeting. Second, and probably even more important, by changing your body to be more engaged and grounded, you’ll feel more confident. And yes, this works even on video calls!
Become better understood by adapting your communication style
Speaking skills are the keystone of effective communication, but speaking clearly and compellingly isn’t all that matters. Being understood is about understanding your audience and allowing your opinion to evolve as you receive new information. Try out these tactics and watch how your communication changes.
Activate your emotional intelligence. The key to effective communication is connecting your points to what your audience knows and cares about. In a meeting, your audience is the other people in the meeting. Make sure you think through what matters to them and connect your opinions to their concerns. This doesn’t mean you have to defer to them, just that if you want to be understood, you have to consider their perspective.
Be open to new information and adjust your stance accordingly. While you spent time before the meeting preparing yourself, as the other meeting-goers share their thoughts, critically evaluate what they’re saying against your initial perspective. What changes for you in light of this new information? Don’t be afraid to say, “I hadn’t thought of that, and now I think differently about the situation.” Changing your mind is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Adjust your appearance without changing how you look
At first glance, appearance in executive presence seems like it’s about what you look like and how you dress. While that’s part of appearance, when it comes to things you can do today to have more presence in your next meeting, let’s focus on how you can adjust your appearance without any investment in your physical appearance.
Maintain your composure. Especially if you’re sharing a strong point of view, it can be challenging to stay calm when you face pushback–and you will face pushback! When faced with a conflicting viewpoint or an overzealous colleague, take a breath and give yourself time to think before responding. It’s easy to dig your heels in or feel attacked, and sometimes situations really are toxic, but that doesn’t mean you have to respond in kind. You always come out looking better if you respond in a measured way.
Watch out for fidgeting. This one can be tough, mainly because we don’t realize we’re doing it. Notice how often you touch your face, hair, glasses, or fingernails. Every time you do, gently put your hands back in your lap or on your laptop. If you’re in a virtual meeting, it’s even easier for you. Move your hands out of the frame of your video and then give yourself something else to do with them–hold a pen or some paper clips instead. Even though fidgeting itself doesn’t say anything about your abilities, being able to stay still when in a meeting is an essential part of appearing professional.
Want to learn more about building executive presence quickly and effectively? Sign up for a free, 30-minute discovery session with Vista Career Coaching, no commitment required.
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