In this post I will begin to describe the skills/behaviors that make up Executive Presence using a goldilocks model of too much, too little and just right for each of the skills/behaviors. Finding the “just right” in each of these different skills/behaviors is the result of discipline and conscious choice. The skill/behavior I will be looking at in this post is communication skills.
Communication skills: Effective communication skills are essential for building executive presence. It has been said that one of the things that people fear the most is public speaking. Yet, for the leader demonstrating executive presence communicating effectively, regardless of the audience is a given. Communicators know that communication is about what is heard more than what is said or how it is said. Don’t get me wrong, what you say is important, as well as how you say it, but communication happens on the receiving end. Those in the sweet spot of “just right” for communication skills display these factors.
a. Clarity and Conciseness: Expressing ideas clearly and succinctly, making it easy for others to understand their message. Choosing the right words makes a big difference.
b. Active Listening: Demonstrating attentive listening, providing appropriate feedback, and asking relevant questions to show interest in the speaker.
c. Confident Body Language: Maintaining good posture, making appropriate eye contact, and using gestures to support their message.Structured Communication: Presenting information in a logical and organized manner, making it easier for the audience to follow.Adaptability: Adjusting communication style based on the context, audience, and goals of the conversation.Effective Use of Examples: Using relevant and relatable examples to illustrate complex ideas and enhance understanding.Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Demonstrating an understanding of other’s feelings and perspectives, fostering better relationships.Active Engagement: Encouraging participation from others, welcoming diverse opinions, and fostering a collaborative environment.
d. Respecting Silence: Allowing appropriate pauses for others to respond or gather their thoughts during conversations.
Strong communication skills are key to developing executive presence and succeeding as a leader. Developing communication skills only comes through practice, augmented by coaching in problem areas. Leaders looking to expand their communication skills will seek out opportunities to communicate with large and small groups and then review their interactions/presentations to discern weak areas upon which to focus for improvement. The ability to communicate well feeds off of personal confidence, but is strengthened by practice and intentional efforts at improvement.
Too Little: The indication that an individual lacks communication skills can be seen in the following ways:
Lack of Clarity: Difficulty expressing ideas clearly and concisely, leading to confusion among listeners.
b. Weak Listening Skills: Failure to actively listen to others, interrupting frequently, or not showing genuine interest in the speakers message.
c. Non-Verbal Cues: Poor body language, such as avoiding eye contact, slouching, or fidgeting, can indicate discomfort or disinterest. Probably the worst of these is focusing on your phone instead of your audience.
d. Rambling and Tangents: Going off on unrelated tangents or providing excessive details can indicate a lack of focus and coherence in their communication.
e. Failure to Adapt: Inability to adjust communication style according to the audience’s needs, leading to misunderstandings or disengagement.
f. Overuse of Jargon: Using industry-specific terms or technical jargon without explaining them, which may alienate others and hinder understanding.
g. Emotional Reactivity: Easily becoming defensive or agitated during conversations, making it challenging to have productive discussions.
h. Lack of Empathy: Not considering other people’s perspectives or feelings, leading to a disconnect in interpersonal interactions.
If your communication skills can be described in any of these ways you have a perception problem, whether you know it or not. You are being perceived of as a poor communicator even though you may not feel that judgement to be warranted. That perception undermines executive presence. You can improve your communication skills with some effort and there several resources that can help. A couple of those are Crucial Conversations: Tools for talking when stakes are high by Kerry Patterson, et.al. and Made to Stick, by Dan and Chip Heath, to name a couple. Practice is the key, especially informed practice and even coaching if necessary.
Too Much: At the other end are the signs that someone’s communication skills have been taken too far. Here are some signs of what that looks like:
a. Over-Talking: Constantly dominating conversations and not allowing others to contribute or share their thoughts.
b. Excessive Persuasion: Being overly persuasive to the point of pushing one’s agenda relentlessly, disregarding others’ opinions and preferences.
c. Overusing Charisma: Relying excessively on charm and charisma to win people over, without substance or authenticity.
d. Manipulation: Using communication tactics to manipulate or deceive others for personal gain or hidden motives.
e. Talking Down: Patronizing or condescending language, which can create a negative and disrespectful atmosphere.
f. Name-Dropping: Frequently mentioning influential or important people in conversations to bolster credibility.
g. Excessive Humor: Overusing humor in inappropriate or serious situations, leading to a lack of sincerity or professionalism.
h. Interrupting: Constantly interrupting others while they speak, showing a lack of respect for their opinions and contributions.
i. Being Overly Emotional: Letting emotions dominate communication, leading to irrationality or excessive outbursts.
j. Information Overload: Bombarding others with an excessive amount of information, making it challenging for them to process and retain important points.
k. Lack of Substance: Focusing solely on style and delivery without conveying meaningful content or valuable insights.
l. Ignoring Boundaries: Invading personal space or crossing privacy boundaries during conversations.
m. Failing to Listen: Talking too much and not taking the time to actively listen to others’ concerns or perspectives.
n. Constant Interruptions: Frequently finishing other people’s sentences or thoughts, not allowing them to complete their ideas.
o. Insensitivity: Making jokes or comments that may be offensive or hurtful to others.
p. Monopolizing Attention: Always seeking attention and centering conversations around oneself.
If your communication can be described by the items on this list, it is almost certain you don’t recognize it. You are likely under the impression that your communication skills are excellent. The cautionary tale here is to find a way to get an honest evaluation, perhaps using the points above as a scale. Once you know the truth you can work to polish the rough spots to find the “just right” in your communication skills.
It is important for individuals to strike a balance in their communication approach, being assertive and engaging without overpowering or alienating others. Communication skills are most effective when they are used to foster collaboration, understanding, and positive relationships with others. The individual who has found the sweet spot of “just right” when it
comes to communication skills is one step closer to demonstrating executive presence.