The New Rules of Executive Presence

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Personal Development, Leading & Managing Section | 1

The New Rules of Executive Presence

By Sylvia Ann Hewlett | Harvard Business Review Magazine | January–February 2024

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Aspiring leaders have long been told that to be considered for senior management roles, especially those in the C-suite, they must demonstrate “executive presence” (EP). In most corporate settings, that has traditionally boiled down to three attributes: gravitas, strong communication skills, and the “right” appearance. But what exactly constitutes EP now? After a decade marked by tumultuous economic, cultural, and technological change, how have expectations about ideal leadership traits changed?  The surveys conducted by the author in 2012 and in 2022 tell a story of significant shifts embedded within continuity. 

Confidence and decisiveness have not gone out of style; those are still the most-sought-after traits contributing to gravitas, which accounts for the lion’s share of EP. However, inclusiveness, in all its manifestations—respecting others, listening to learn, telegraphing authenticity—has shot onto the list of the most-valued components of all three dimensions of EP. That change reflects the new weight of diversity, equity, and inclusion in business strategy.

Gravitas: Its traits including inclusiveness and respect for others.  To be inclusive, you must not only hire people with diverse backgrounds and give everyone a fair shot at climbing the ladder. You must also ensure that all your employees feel appreciated and supported. In doing so, you will uncover value for individuals, your team, and your organization.  For this tactics includ: deliver informed empathy, volunteer a “value add.”  And being a respectful leader requires much more than treating everyone with dignity. It involves acquiring a body of knowledge that allows you to understand the lived experiences of those whose identity or heritage is different from your own. Consult experts, dig down into the research, and add people with diverse perspectives to your team. If you go beyond empathy and compassion, you may gain valuable insights that can strengthen your business.  Tactics for this could be: hire and utilize diverse talent, and look beyond the pedigree.

Communication.  Command of Zoom and “Listen to Learn” Orientation are the important attributes in this.  Covid-19 sped up the shift to virtual communication, and many of the executives struggled to master the art of leading on Zoom, Teams, Slack, and other online platforms. But doing so is key to EP today.  Suggested tactics are ace the visuals and proactively manage virtual meetings.   Although displaying forcefulness was high on the list of most-sought-after communication traits in 2012, it’s less desired today. People now gravitate more toward leaders who listen and learn from others before they make decisions—a trait seen as critical to growing markets and retaining top talent.  Tactics includ: engage eye-to-eye and go beyond your comfort zone.

Appearance.  One needs to work on authenticity and Online and In-Person Presence.  Appearance is the least-important EP bucket, but it’s the one that changed most from 2012 to 2022. Authenticity, which didn’t register with survey respondents 10 years ago, is newly prized. Nowadays, to be seen as leadership material, executives are expected to reveal who they fundamentally are—not mimic some dated, idealized model. Tactics should be: showcase your roots and values and dress for the new normal.  Being a standout leader in 2024 necessitates showing up both online and in the flesh. Tactic: Use social media to shape your brand, build relationships in person.

Research in both 2012 and 2022 indicates that executive presence is learnable. You don’t have to be some kind of genius to crack the EP code—you must simply act, speak, and appear in ways that set you apart as a leader. That starts with knowing what behaviors are most valued in your organization and industry, seeking guidance from sponsors, and then committing to the hard work of embodying and displaying those traits in your own unique way. Remember, too, that you don’t have to nail every prized leadership trait in the gravitas, communication, and appearance buckets. Ginni Rometty doesn’t sweep the board, nor does Sundar Pichai. Success can come from simply developing your authentic strengths and excelling at two or three competencies in each EP category. But please, make sure to focus on at least one leadership trait that’s in ascendance.

3 key takeaways from the article

1. Aspiring leaders have long been told that to be considered for senior management roles, especially those in the C-suite, they must demonstrate “executive presence” (EP). In most corporate settings, that has traditionally boiled down to three attributes: gravitas, strong communication skills, and the “right” appearance. But what exactly constitutes EP now? 
2. After a decade marked by tumultuous economic, cultural, and technological change, how have expectations about ideal leadership traits changed?  Surveys conducted in 2012 and in 2022 tell a story of significant shifts embedded within continuity. 
3. According to the surveys confidence and decisiveness have not gone out of style; those are still the most-sought-after traits contributing to gravitas, which accounts for the lion’s share of EP. However, inclusiveness, in all its manifestations—respecting others, listening to learn, telegraphing authenticity—has shot onto the list of the most-valued components of all three dimensions of EP. That change reflects the new weight of diversity, equity, and inclusion in business strategy.

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Topics:  Leadership, Communication, Authenticity, Decision-making