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Leadership presence

is a vital ingredient

for career success

Consider these nine tips for making a strong impression on

others — to land a job or win a promotion, secure resources,
close a deal, or inspire change.

By Raju Venkataraman, FCMA, CGMA

magine you are in a meeting where Why is this presence important? respondents said that executive presence
an important matter is being Sometime in 2001, my then boss at the is an accelerator that propels a career
discussed. You say something Walt Disney Co. and I were on an audio forward by differentiating individuals
pertinent, but it does not land. conference call with senior colleagues from others. Further, 77% of respondents
IMinutes later someone else says from the Disney Asia-Pacific regional agreed that those with high levels of
pretty much the same thing. This time, office in Hong Kong. Disagreeing with a executive presence progress quickly in
eyes light up, heads nod in approval, and point made by the folks on the other side their careers.
it becomes a catalyst for further of the phone, I tried to whisper to my boss
discussions. on the sidelines. Exasperated, he pressed You know it when you see it
What is the reason for this difference the mute button, told me sharply, “Raju, In the Tracom Group study, 51% of
in how the point was received? Why was for heaven’s sake, SPEAK UP,” unmuted, respondents said executive presence is
your contribution overlooked and the and continued the call. difficult to define, but only 19% said it is
other person listened to? I was taken aback, but the lesson was difficult to spot.
The answer, often, is leadership not lost on me. While I had always been We’ve all heard the term “grace under
presence — the quality of making a strong impactful in one-on-one situations, I pressure”. Easy to imagine, difficult to
impression on others. tended to be less sure of myself in large practise. Let me go back even further to
group situations or when senior the beginning of my career, when, like any
What is leadership presence? stakeholders were involved. Does that excitable young executive, I was eager to
Leadership or executive presence creates sound familiar? With my boss’s advice, I exercise my managerial authority and
impactful moments and experiences that realised this could be a huge impediment issue instructions. My overzealousness
enable you to quickly gain and sustain in my career progress. would likely have landed me in trouble
credibility, influence, and trust. To an While capability and potential are the had it not been for the steadying hand of
extent it is about impressions, both first fundamental drivers of career progress, another boss, who taught me the basics of
and those that develop over time. “presence” is a factor in being noticed, managing people and handling pressure.
This presence can be observed as the influencing others, and getting things With other role models throughout my
ability to inspire confidence in others. It done in the organisation. Your leadership career, and through continuous practice, I
may also be seen as possessing an image presence determines the opportunities went on to acquire the reputation of a
of confidence, competence, and you get. And the opportunities you get tough-but-fair person.
trustworthiness. While having leadership drive your personal growth trajectory. I also had very limited sartorial tastes
presence does mean enjoying a positive According to research by Tracom Group in the early part of my career, which
perception by others, it is not a made-up, conducted mainly among HR, talent aligned with my value system of “looks
cultivated image but rather an management, and learning and don’t matter”. My wife, and then a friend
authentically expressed persona. development practitioners, 51% of and colleague, opened my eyes to the fact

FM-MAGAZINE.COM August 2022 I FM MAGAZINE I 29