Executive presence, its implications in business

THE ability to present yourself and your information is a critical management and leadership skill. In fact, ‘executive presence’ accounts for about 26% of what it takes to get promoted, and this has nothing to do with your technical skills or expertise.

Executive presence is the ability to project gravitas (substance), confidence and poise under pressure. It includes the ability to speak and present with assertiveness and influence. is aspect develops the confidence and competence to speak and present at local, regional and international meetings so that ideas will be understood and respected.

How people judge others

From the moment two people meet, they're sizing each other up, looking for signs of qualities like honesty, intelligence, and altruism. Whether it's a date or a job interview, the small stuff matters — from the firmness of your handshake to how often you check your phone. A look at the Quora thread, "What are the really small things that tell a lot about a person's psychology and personality?," shows some of the most common behaviors people use to judge others.

Your handshake

Several executives I have interacted with, admitted they judge people based on their handshake. According to Julian Parge "Strong handshakes usually reflect a strong and confident character, where as weak handshakes usually indicate a lack of confidence and are almost always a characteristic of people who would look for an easy way to do things."

Research backs up the idea that your handshake can reveal certain aspects of your personality: One study found that people with firm handshakes were more likely to be extroverted and emotionally expressive and less likely to be shy and neurotic. A business handshake must be firm and reassuring

Showing up on time

Late for a very important date? ere are people who are never on time when it comes to appointments. is behaviour is irritating.

For a person who's waiting, it might send a negative impression of your personality. Normally a proactive person is always there on time, because he is self-motivated, mentally organised, and values time whereas a procrastinator will be running here and there at the last hour. From experience, those who are chronically late aren't necessarily inconsiderate people — but they're probably more laid-back, individuals. I normally refer these people as “casual.”

Your treatment of restaurant staff

I sometimes pay close attention to how other people interact with waiters. I have often noticed you can learn a lot about someone based on the way he or she treats waiters, hotel maids, and security guards. One, CEO of a prominent company, says he once declined to give someone a job partly because she was nice to him but rude to someone cleaning the tables nearby.

How you drink out of a cup

According to research, a person that looks into the cup when drinking tends to be more introspective, self-aware, idealistic, and focused.

A person who looks over the rim of the cup when drinking tends to be more influenced by others, more environmentally aware, carefree, extroverted, and trusting.

A person who closes their eyes when they drink is in some sort of pain or discomfort and is preoccupied with pleasure and relief.

Biting your nails

A certain academic has strong views on people with bitten nails, saying that it's a sign the person eats away at himself. Meanwhile, research suggests that those who bite their nails (or pull their hair, or pick their skin) tend to be perfectionists, unable to fully relax.

Your handwriting

Whether you're writing a to-do list or a love note, your handwriting can say a lot about you. It is believed that people who put a lot of pressure on pen and paper to write something are usually stubborn in attitude. ey have a lot of confidence. Meanwhile, professional graphologist Kathi McKnight says large letters indicate that you're peopleoriented, while small letters suggest you're introverted.

Letters that slant to the right can mean you're friendly and sentimental; those that don't slant at all might mean you're pragmatic; letters that slant to the left suggest you're introspective.

Eye contact

Some tudy shows that a limp handshake and a lack of steady eye contact shows lack of self-control, required drive to follow through, and a weak will. Alternatively, psychologist Adrian Furnham writes in Psychology Today that extroverts tend to look more often and for longer at their conversation partners than introverts do. And in general, people who look at their partners more often are more confident and socially dominant.

Robert Mandeya is a Certified Executive Leadership Coach, Corporate Education Trainer and Management Consultant. He can be contacted on: robert@lird.co.zw/info@lird.co.zw/@ Facebook @lirdzim +263719466925/ whatsaap+263772466925