What does the term “executive presence” mean to you?

Our reader poll today asks: What does the term “executive presence” mean to you?

• The person is a polished presenter who speaks with confidence – 15%
  
• The person is a natural leader whom people gravitate toward – 52%
  
• The person builds consensus and overcomes conflict easily – 16%
  
• The person dresses well and projects a sense of status – 9%
  
• Something else – 7%

Presence means gravitas. To the majority of you (52%) executive presence is about projecting a style of leadership that people gravitate toward and want to follow. Leadership doesn’t have to be loud, either. It’s about being confident in setting a clear and inspiring direction, expressing that you truly care about those you lead, and that you’re approachable and trustworthy. It’s not about the clothes, the stage presence, or the way you project your voice. It’s about being that leader who brings a team together and makes people feel safe and excited about following them. While presentations and speaking with confidence matter (15%), it’s likely more about how you speak and what you speak about that builds the gravitas that people want to follow. Stop worrying about shining your shoes and ironing your shirt and focus on crafting an authentic, inspiring message that people trust and buy into.

– Mike Figliuolo at thoughtLEADERS, LLC

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These results were originally a SmartPulse poll in SmartBrief on Leadership which tracks feedback from more than 240,000 business leaders. Get smarter on leadership and sign up for the SmartBrief on Leadership e-newsletter.