Executive presence is a quality that can determine your success in the business world. It goes way beyond being charismatic or wearing power suits. It is about projecting confidence, inspiring others and making a lasting impression. Research has shown that people with high levels of executive presence are better paid and are more likely to advance in their careers. And, it seems, it is surprisingly easy to develop.

Research by Gavin Dagley and Cadeyrn Gaskin has shown there are specific traits that heighten your presence. And you can acquire almost half of these traits instantly, without needing any special skills. An article about this research neatly summarised those traits. The ones you can rapidly acquire include personal grooming, integrity, projected confidence and values in action (or walking your talk).

The article also gave these tips for building your presence.

• Prepare for meetings. Take five minutes before each meeting to mentally and emotionally prepare yourself. Set a positive tone and tailor your presence to meet the audience’s expectations.
• Project positive emotions. The emotional tone you set at the beginning of a conversation can set the stage for the entire dialogue. Show enthusiasm, positivity and genuine interest to create a favourable impression.

• Step into a confident posture. Avoid nervous movements or distractions that can detract from your presence. Stay calm and collected.
• Speak with self-assurance. Your words matter, but so does your delivery. Pay attention to your tone of voice, clarity and emphasis. Speak with conviction and passion to captivate your listeners.
• Ask thoughtful questions. Great leaders know that questions are more powerful than statements. Ask insightful questions to engage others and demonstrate your interest in developing them.

Using these research-backed tips will help you stand out as leader with real presence. Remember, building your executive wow-factor is not about having a natural talent, for leadership. It’s about deliberately developing a confident and impactful brand. So start working on your presence today!

You can read more from the original article here.

This article summary was created by Eleanor Shakiba

Eleanor is a leadership trainer, success coach and people skills expert. She helps managers and business owners build thriving teams and organisations, using tools from Positive Psychology. She's trained more than 60,000 people during her career as a corporate trainer and professional development consultant. Her mission is inspiring talented people to become leaders who make a difference.