Tag: Executive Presence

Win A Yes! For The Plan

Posted on by Karen Moyse in Leadership Presence

Many of you will be presenting your plans to the board very soon.   To get what you want, know that the strongest predictor of who gets investment is not the credentials or the content.  Research shows that the strongest predictors are the traits: confidence, comfort level and passionate enthusiasm.

If you would like to be coached to craft the message, build executive presence or confidence to get that plan through, do contact us.   And if you are presenting now, have a look at the executive presence & presentation tips we post.  They might get you over the line!

Harvard Professor Amy Cuddy reveals data from Lakshmi Balachandra in her Presence book.  Balachandra investigated the way entrepreneurs made 185 pitches to potential venture capital investors and the way investors responded. It tells us a lot about how to win business budgets internally and with other investors.

The other interesting part of this research is that the investors distrusted ‘slick’ communicators and were looking for authenticity.

The clear message is that it’s important to focus as much time on your own ‘professional presence’ as on your content.  But how many times do you find your teams pouring over the final slides at the last minute rather than working on how they communicate?  It’s like going into bat with your hand tied behind your back.

The data may sound puzzling but it makes a great deal of sense.  What the investors or your board are looking for is people who will deliver the plan.  If the person looks like they don’t genuinely believe in the proposition or isn’t genuinely confident, why should the investor believe?

KineticFuture can coach you to be a world-class communicator and leader. Coaching 1-2-1 and in groups. Clients include Abbvie, Amgen, Gilead, GSK, Novartis, Mars, Pladis, WPP and Barclays. We have six main areas of work: Time to Think™ coaching, executive presence, presenting and storytelling, tricky conversations, resilience and communicating purpose.

Truth To Power

Posted on by Karen Moyse in Leadership Presence, Leading Yourself

One of the 7 components of executive presence is for leaders to “speak truth to power”.  Can you make the points that the boss doesn’t want to hear, be the one who says something different from the herd and do you have the courage to do it?  The career impact and team results are huge if you do it well.

At the weekend, I read “Truth To Power. 7 Ways To Call Time on BS by Jess Phillips M.P”.  It’s an extraordinary, moving and a very practical how to book.  It knocked my socks off.

I now recommend it in my Time To Think™ coaching sessions and on our group Executive Presence & Presenting courses.  You might want to be effective and authentic in the office or you may be driving a big change.  It’s all super relevant.  Contact me if you want leadership coaching or to build your exec presence for presentations and meetings.

Here are the key chapter headlines to give you her overall top tips. You can buy the book on Amazon .

  • Not all heroes wear capes
  • Feel the fear
  • What’s the plan
  • Building momentum
  • The backlash
  • Attention seeker
  • Keep going and enjoy it

KineticFuture can coach you to be a world-class communicator and leader. Coaching 1-2-1 and in groups. Clients include Abbvie, Amgen, Gilead, GSK, Novartis, Mars, Pladis, WPP and Barclays. We have six main areas of work: Time to Think™ coaching, executive presence, presenting and storytelling, tricky conversations, resilience and communicating purpose.

Female Leader With Executive Presence

Women Leaders Mustn’t Sacrifice Authenticity

Posted on by Karen Moyse in Leadership Presence, Leading Others, Leading Yourself

Many women leaders don’t fulfil their leadership potential, thinking they must trade their authenticity for executive presence and gravitas. Not true. In fact, you’ll only be successful if you develop your EP in your own authentic way. 

Remember what got you here, won’t necessarily get you there. Get your Executive Presence right and you’ll secure those leadership promotions, be accepted by your peers, influence senior leaders and achieve great work with your team.

As a specialist coach in EP and gravitas , my starting point is your values. The global EP research provides us with a useful framework, but you need to do it your way.  It’s the same for men. And it’s about encouraging diversity.

Below are some common mistakes which will stop you igniting your own leadership talent.

If you would like leadership or EP coaching one to one or as a team, do get in contact soon for a chat. You can apply it to your daily leadership, meetings & presentations.   Here are common EP mistakes.

  1. Not developing your own executive presence – it’s the water leaders swim in every day. Fellow leaders expect it. 
  2. Thinking this is just about ego power plays – it’s about getting great work done, solving problems and developing others
  3. Behaving like an old-style male leader – that’s a disaster, find your own path to maximise the benefits of your diversity
  4. Not realising how good you are, imposter syndrome or holding back until you are perfect (you’ll wait forever!)
  5. Expecting the world to adapt to your expectations rather than working with what is real today – you’ll need clever strategies, understanding of human dynamics (yes, politics too), resilience and the ability to read your own organisation 

KineticFuture can coach you to be a world-class communicator and leader. Coaching 1-2-1 and in groups. Clients include Abbvie, Amgen, Gilead, GSK, Novartis, Mars, Pladis, WPP and Barclays. We have six main areas of work: Time to Think™ coaching, executive presence, presenting and storytelling, tricky conversations, resilience and communicating purpose.

I Lead But I’m Not The Expert

Posted on by Karen Moyse in Leading Yourself

I coach many leaders of technical teams with complex topics.   If the ‘am I technical enough?’ worry is on your mind and it’s holding you back, I hope these tips help.  It’s a common concern and one that’s really worth thinking about.  Call me if you would like to talk about how leadership or communications coaching can propel your confidence and impact to the next level. 

Some people are already experts and are learning to lead and communicate well.  Others are strong leaders but lack all the technical expertise & knowledge they think they need.   With everything in between.  This ‘expert’ concern can hold back both groups from leading confidently, presenting well and ultimately impacts on results.  So how do you tackle it?  

The main point is to gain some perspective on the reality of the situation and then actively shape how you personally want to tackle the job.  Here are some tips that help you work out how.

Get Perspective & A Reality Check

What is your role today, what are the expectations from your company?

What do you offer, why are you the leader?  

What Must You Know?

  • Normally, there is technical or structural knowledge you must have to operate. However, it’s unrealistic to think you can be as expert as the ‘deep’ operational experts in your team in every area. You are the leader of the team now and that is different. 
  • Ask yourself what must you know, what do you know, where are your gaps? Does it matter?

What Next? 

  • How will you position your role so that you are not expected to be an expert in all areas? 
  • How will you fill gaps you need to fill?
  • How will you handle meetings, presentations and advising the team?  
  • Can you take a chair role, helping your expert team to shine, asking strong questions?

Business woman in leadership standing in busy street with executive presence and gravita

Can They Lead Without You?

Posted on by Karen Moyse in Leading Others

Can your team lead key meetings without you? They have the technical expertise but well…  ‘they are not you’. Sadly, your bosses, clients and other key stakeholders recognise that they lack the confidence, gravitas and executive presence. The impact of having to be in each meeting on on your time and your team’s development is huge.

We coach Executive Presence. It really is the missing link between merit and success. We base our KineticFuture approach on solid global research and use theatre skills, real simulations, psychology and practice to ensure each person in the group can find their own authentic way forward. Contact us if you’d like to know about our group courses and one to one coaching.

It’s highly skilful coaching work but you can help your team right now with some quick tips and hints below. It’s worth it.

Quick Tips for Executive Presence, Confidence & Gravitas.

  1. Just do it – get them leading meetings without you. They will survive and grow with a bit of guidance. It’s worth the risk.
  2. Super prepare – some of your team will back off the prep because they are scared, others will spend too much time on the wrong things. Give them guidance on what to prepare and ensure they are clear on objectives, key messages and proof points. Can they answer the tough questions succinctly? Rehearse them through it.
  3. Physicality – they can make a huge difference just by rehearsing their physicality in a room. Ask them to walk in, sit down and start to explain the topic. Coach them to sit tall, open arms on the table, make good eye contact and stop any fiddling. Then maintain it come what may. Ask them too where they plan to sit – in easy eye-line of the key decision maker will help.