Women face unique challenges when building executive presence. How do we convey confidence without being seen as aggressive? How do we embrace our own style? How do we demonstrate leadership without being labeled “bossy”? These are questions I hear frequently when coaching women leaders, and they reflect the double standards that still exist in many organizational cultures.
The truth is that women can embody executive presence as fully as their male counterparts—and do so authentically. Developing executive presence is one of the top reasons executives seek coaching, as they recognize its importance to advancement and success. Research from Harvard Business Review found that 52% of men and 45% of women surveyed believe being perceived as having executive presence is more important to promotion than having specific qualifications.
So what is executive presence? At its core, it is the ability to engage, align, inspire, and move people to action. As you transition into leadership positions, you move from being an individual contributor to someone who accomplishes goals through others. The higher the leadership position, the more important the embodiment of executive presence.
The journey to developing or enhancing your presence begins with self-awareness and requires intentionality and strategy. Here’s…
