Executive Presence: The Missing Link Between Merit and Success

Are you "leadership material?" More importantly, do others perceive you to be? Sylvia Ann Hewlett, a noted expert on workplace power and influence, shows you how to identify and embody the Executive Presence (EP) that you need for ultimate career success. You can have the experience and qualifications of a leader, but without a powerful personal brand, you won’t advance. EP is an amalgam of qualities that true leaders exude, a presence that telegraphs you’re in charge or deserve to be. Articulating those qualities isn’t easy, however. Based on a nationwide survey of college graduates working across a range of sectors and occupations, Sylvia Hewlett and the Center for Talent Innovation discovered that EP is a dynamic, cohesive mix of appearance, communication, and gravitas. While these elements are not equal, to develop true leadership skills, you must know how to use all of them to your advantage. Filled with eye-opening insights, analysis, and practical advice for both men and women, mixed with illustrative examples from executives, Executive Presence will help you make the leap from working like an executive to feeling like an executive. This essential guide for your professional development gives you the tools to master the three pillars of leadership presence: Master Your Gravitas: Learn what 67% of senior executives consider the core of executive presence, from projecting confidence and grace under fire to speaking truth to power. Sharpen Your Communication: Develop superior public speaking skills and an assertive style that commands a room, whether you’re addressing a small team or a large conference. Polish Your Appearance: Understand how looking polished and groomed acts as a critical first filter and telegraphs to others that you are leadership material from the moment you walk in the room. Actionable Career Advice: Move beyond theory with practical, real-world examples and insights drawn from a nationwide survey and interviews with senior executives.