Executive Presence

Just what is Executive Presence? It is a set of behaviors and attitudes that convey to others a level of confidence, competence, authenticity and leadership ability. It involves all elements of self-presentation – body, voice, personality and energy.

• In our survey, 1 out of every 5 respondents indicated issues around workplace perception and confidence as their greatest challenge as a woman in the workplace.
  
• More than half (56.4 %) of women took credit for their work “rarely” to only “sometimes.”

The Supergirl Dilemma found that gender stereotypes could have a serious impact on girls' and women's abilities to develop strong leadership skills.

• 55% of girls and 71% of women believed that “girls are expected to speak softly and not cause trouble”
• 45% of girls and 71% of women believe that “girls are told not to brag about things they do well.”
  

Full Circle . . .
Professional women often struggle with effective self-presentation. As girls, we may be socialized to treat modesty as a virtue. Therefore, self-promotion may feel uncomfortable. As children, we may have been rewarded for being soft-spoken and non-aggressive, even non-competitive. Unfortunately, this model of behavior is not usually rewarded in the workplace.

The surveys showed that both girls and women hold beliefs about gender expectations or expressed behaviors that could impact their leadership presence.

These beliefs can stand in the way of career progression and satisfaction because they can detract from executive presence. Presence is enhanced by speaking with sufficient volume and projection and by effective self-promotion.

Quotes:

“[Girls] don’t always want to wear dresses, play with dolls and be nice & quiet – we sometimes like to be the opposite.”
- 5th grade girl, The Supergirl Dilemma

“[My greatest challenge as a woman in the workplace today] is to be taken seriously. To not have ambition translated into aggressiveness or unfeminine."
- Professional Woman

Tips:
We recommend that girls and women practice speaking up, both in terms of volume, and in terms of confidence.

Below are some useful tips that can help with boosting self-confidence, developing your “Competency Commercial” and projecting the image of a leader:

Body - Do you project a professional, confident image?

• Take Up Space - Confident people take up space. At meetings, give yourself and your belongings room to spread out a bit. Don’t sit in the far reaches of the room or meekly squeeze in between others. Make sure your presence is obvious to others.
• Looking Good is Feeling Good – Project a polished, competent appearance.
  

Voice – What does your speech convey to others?

• Speak Up – Your voice can be a powerful tool, but only if others can hear you. Be sure to turn up the volume if needed.
• Go Slow and Low – Speaking slowly and with a deeper voice increases the perception of confidence. Avoid upward inflections at the ends of sentences.
• Pause, Don’t Fill – Be aware of how often you use fillers (such as “ums” and “ahs”) and replace them with pauses. You speech will appear thoughtful and deliberate versus nervous and choppy.
  

Personality & Energy – Do you attract and inspire others?

• Stand Tall – Keep your head, shoulders back stand grounded, as though you are supported by both legs. Good posture conveys energy and power.
• Let Your Authentic Self Shine – Understand your own strengths and be sure to capitalize on them. Strive to project an image that is consistent with your self-perception.
• Smile – Smiling appropriately makes others see you as likeable and approachable. The simple act will also improve your mood.
  

Your Competency Commercial – Do others know what you do and how well you do it?

• Summarize your accomplishments and strengths.
• Identify why you are excited by them.
• Practice speaking them aloud so you are more than ready when the time comes.

Girls Inc. recommends:

• Tell a girl it's okay to brag about something she's good at.
• Confront notions of female fragility. Challenge views in the media and elsewhere of assertive women as unfeminine.
• Teach girls skills that help them think on their feet, make their points, and defend their positions without apology.