For the past 20 years, I have been speaking and teaching about executive presence. A question I frequently encounter is, “What is executive presence?” Simply put, it’s the essential blend of qualities that people seek in a leader. Do you possess it? More importantly, do others perceive that you do? Reflect on your skills and knowledge: would others describe you as confident, commanding, poised, bold, influential and insightful? Have you consistently exhibited these traits when it matters most? If you’re like many professionals who believe their work alone will showcase their leadership, you risk being overlooked when opportunities for career advancement arise.
The truth is impressions often outweigh performance. It’s not just about your hard work, reliability or tenure at the company. Why does perception matter? In my presentation, “The Power of Perception: Reputations are Built on Perception,” I delve into how you can shape others’ perceptions and ensure you’re top-of-mind when opportunities arise. Read on to discover why perception is crucial and how you can proactively manage your future within your organization.
1. The spotlight is on you
I’ve worked with leaders who never really considered career advancement — until it suddenly mattered to them. For years, they focused on their families or were entirely consumed with their current roles, not paying much attention to new opportunities. Whatever the reason, one day, work promotions suddenly mattered. Even if this is a new revelation for you, it isn’t for those around you. Whether you know it or like it, senior leaders are constantly assessing your future in the organization. Remember that the day you feel ready to advance is not the day your evaluation starts. Whatever you’re doing and how you’re behaving now will impact you long into the future. Your reputation and the positive impression you make on others are built over time, not in the days or weeks leading up to your performance evaluation.
2. What people observe matters to them
Imagine that there is a succession planning meeting happening in your organization. Executive sit around the table, ready to discuss those who should — or should not – be groomed to take on increasing responsibility. Your department’s head has an entire folder of examples of the excellent work, successful projects and happy clients you have been involved with in the last year. It seems great. But the executive to the left watched you stumble through a dismal presentation two years ago. Will they be convinced by your lead’s recitation of stats and facts? Probably not. What they saw then mattered to them and made a lasting impression. They might be swayed if they see you excel in action again or if the highly regarded executive to the right shares a credible anecdote, like watching you deftly mediate a tense disagreement between two vendors. Personal experience and credible anecdotes will trump your work portfolio every time.
3. Everyone is always forming opinions
No matter what the interaction, from a routine daily meeting to a crisis, your peers, clients, vendors, bosses and executives are forming opinions of you, just like you are of them. Our impressions of another human being are made up of all the big and little things we observe, even when we’re not consciously evaluating someone’s credibility, communication style or leadership potential. Unfortunately, one negative occasion can easily stick in people’s minds — a day we waffle too long on a decision or miss an important deadline. These moments mean we have to work harder and way longer to prove we’re decisive, capable, calm and collected. Opinions are formed quickly and stick around for a long time. Act as if you’re constantly being considered because you are.
4. Perception is at the heart of decisions
It’s crucial to remember that impressions often override performance. When deciding whom to offer opportunities, people frequently rely on their gut feelings about a person’s character rather than their work history. If this weren’t the case, hiring could be done solely from resumes without the need for extensive interview panels and reference checks. Perception can be almost everything, especially on the executive track. If you want to progress, you need to win both the hearts and minds of those at the table.
Ready to get ahead but feeling stuck, no matter how well you perform in your current role? It may be time to evaluate the perceptions of you in your organization. It’s daunting work, but if you want to advance, take a deep breath and begin the process of finding out how you are perceived and, if necessary, how to change it. You may uncover some truths that are hard to swallow, but you may also find that your work and your style as a leader may just need more visibility. Now that you know how perception is impacting your career, it’s time to take stock and make a plan to move forward.
Opinions expressed by SmartBrief contributors are their own.
____________________________________
Take advantage of SmartBrief’s FREE email newsletters on leadership and business transformation, among the company’s more than 250 industry-focused newsletters.