Posts Tagged ‘Executive Presence’

Are You Boring or Fascinating?

Thursday, December 1st, 2011 by Connie Dieken

Do you feel boring?  Or fascinating?  I promise that no matter how run-of-the-mill you may feel most days, you possess a leadership quality that others find fascinating. I see this unfold every day in my executive coaching practice. Every leader has a unique asset, an inner strength that defines their executive presence.

What I find fascinating is that most leaders arrive at my coaching session oblivious to their unique asset. They don’t see themselves as others do. I find great joy in helping leaders identify what’s influential about them – and then help them amplify it.

If you identify and amplify your unique assets, you will become far more influential. More powerful. More authentically and satisfyingly you.

I recently taped an interview with Sally Hogshead, the author of “Fascinate,” to help uncover seven qualities that she believes fascinates others. If, by chance, you’re snickering over Sally’s last name, she has a heartfelt, unique retort for you at the end of this video.  As you’ll see, it’s part of what makes Sally so darned fascinating herself.

I hope you enjoy this quick video to learn which fascinating qualities YOU possess:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huR3JVnNebo

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What Your Executive Presence is – and is Not

Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011 by Connie Dieken

In this edition of “Connie off the Cuff,” Connie shares the truth behind what your Executive Presence is – and is not.

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Reconsider Confidence – It’s Not What You Think

Monday, June 20th, 2011 by Connie Dieken

Recently, my life has been packed with one life-altering experience after another. Among them were two milestone graduations – my son’s from college and my daughter’s from high school. (This makes me feel so old.  Congratulations, Spencer and Ali!)

Which got me to thinking about confidence – and how people completely misunderstand it. Confidence is more critical now than ever in the economy we’re facing today. It’s essential to cultivate it so you can seize opportunities and avoid pitfalls.

But it’s not just recent graduates who crave confidence – every C-suite executive whom I’ve had the privilege to coach wants a booster shot to help them be more influential and make things happen. They understand that  confidence begets influence and personal impact.

But here’s the catch: you crush your own confidence every day. Oh, you don’t intend to.  Chances are, you don’t even realize that you’re undermining your ability to make an impact, day-in and day-out. It’s certainly not your intent.

So what’s going on?

Simple. You may confuse confidence with self-esteem. Grasping the difference between the two can transform how you interact with others – whether you’re a seasoned executive or a newbie in the business world. I’ve witnessed extraordinary transformations in leaders’ abilities to influence as I share this secret of executive presence and then coach them in how to unleash their confidence in presentations and other make-it or break-it interactions. Even the most anxious public speaker – whose jitters would normally crush their own confidence in the front of the room – will morph into a remarkably influential presenter when they employ this unshakable confidence technique.

So what is confidence, then? Simply put, confidence is the expectation of a positive outcome in a specific situation.  Period.  It’s not self-esteem, which is how you secretly size yourself up and assign your status in the world.  Self-esteem is where insecurities like Imposter Syndrome lurk. Unlike self-esteem, confidence is situational. Which means you’re completely in control to ignite it or zap it like a bug on neon – one situation at a time.  Confidence is easily within reach when you unhook it from the complicated, big-picture puzzle of self-esteem. Tell yourself that you are prepared in this specific situation, envision a positive outcome, and fear will melt away. This shift in mindset is simple, yet it’s a profound game-changer.

I encourage you to devour the interview with Tim Sanders in my next post.  Tim will challenge you to reconsider confidence,  helping you overcome self-doubt and fear.

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Stop Selling Yourself Short – Be a Confident Communicator

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010 by Connie Dieken

Being a confident communicator who influences others is a choice you make each and every day.  Every time you attempt to sell an idea, product, or service, you can choose to:

A) Own your message and go all in, or
B) Wimp out by watering down, withholding, or collapsing to the competition.

I was the queen of watering down when I launched my business ten years ago.  I’d like to think my intentions were honorable – I wanted to get along with everyone in my industry and I didn’t want to sound too full of myself.  But by diminishing my messages about how potential clients could benefit from working with me,  I sold myself short. Worst yet, I missed opportunities to contribute and help leaders learn to influence at the top of their game.

What about you?  Are you selling yourself short? Perhaps you could learn a lesson from this little girl:

Motivational Girl Speech

I’m on a mission to help you become a more confident communicator – every bit as motivated and self-assured as the little girl in the video.  Confident communicators influence others and make things happen. Let me ground you with a few communi-truths:

  1. Confidence is the expectation of a positive outcome. It’s the opposite of negativity.  Confidence requires that you tackle and wrestle your inner critic to the ground so you project an outlook every bit as positive as the little girl in the video. Don’t choose to be road kill. Confidence is situational – expect a positive outcome in a specific situation, motivate yourself to attain it, and deliver your message to the world, unabashed. You’ll exude executive presence.
  2. Confidence stays in the moment. Maybe the product or service you sell has an imperfect past.  So what?  Every product/service worth its weight in gold has been beta tested and improved in stages.  Stop looking behind you and sounding apologetic as you dwell on past imperfections. Great ideas are a work in progress – your job is to stay in the moment and deliver the here and now.
  3. Own your message or your competition will own you. Don’t let the competition define you by telling cautionary tales to potential customers.  That’s the negative comparison trap.  Instead, spread your own message.  Communicate your unique success stories and watch people gain trust in you.

Confident communicators don’t sell themselves short when they face pushbacks. They don’t come across as defeated when challenged.  Instead, they move the ball forward and confidently change minds, resulting in a win-win for all involved. Now get out there and influence your world!

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Witness LeBron’s Deceptive Body Language

Saturday, July 10th, 2010 by Connie Dieken

LeBron James and Dan Gilbert both damaged their global presence with their communications this week. LeBron’s theatrics were a narcissistic nightmare.  Gilbert’s knee-jerk open letter was widely interpreted as an example of a sore loser.

At least Gilbert’s passionate response was fascinatingly transparent and straight from the heart. LeBron’s was purely from the head and didn’t ring true.

Here are seven ways that the man who covets a ring didn’t ring true during his televised hostage release:

  1. Deceptive body language. LeBron did a poor acting job of trying to look humble, furrowed brow and all. His attempt to look “pained” backfired, resulting in him looking uncomfortable and lacking warmth. More importantly, LeBron’s lips gave him away. When he revealed his choice, he pursed his lips. The lips are among the most emotional parts of the body.  Pursed lips are a sign of unvoiced emotion.  He was being deceptive.
  2. Ludicrous use of the phrase “humbling experience.” LeBron said the vetting process had been humbling for him. Nonsense. Humbling for the rich beggars forced to trek to LeBron’s chambers for their expensive dog-and-pony shows. Oh, the money that was wasted trying to lure LeBron.   This experience was not humbling. It puffed him up like a popcorn kernel waiting to explode.
  3. Implausible “I made the decision when I woke up this morning” storyline. This was a blatant, manufactured story in an attempt to justify the suspenseful dog-and-pony show.  No one believes it, LeBron.  You played everyone.  The Three Musketeers knew this decision all along.  You were just satisfying your ego and playing out your plan to build brand dominance.
  4. The phony baloney backdrop at the Boys and Girls Club. There was nothing charitable about it.  You should have held your hostage release at the University of Phoenix or Vitamin Water headquarters.  Your clients were front and center. And yes, we noticed the Vitamin Water bottle beside you, label turned toward the camera, along with the vending machine strategically placed between you and Jim Gray. But funny thing – you never mentioned your OWN kids.  Although asked repeatedly who factored into your decision, you never once mentioned your children or the girlfriend who’s raising your mini-me’s.
  5. Using his mom as his accomplice. As a mother, it struck me as a cowardly move to say that your mother’s morning phone call blessing the South Beach destination sealed the deal. Take it like a man, LeBron.  It was your decision, not hers. And why bring God into it?  You’ve never mentioned the man upstairs before.  Nice publicity for God, but it came across as out of character to the people who know you.
  6. Speaking of himself in the third person. How arrogant to refer to himself  as “LeBron James” and wanting to make “LeBron James” happy.  Who does that, other than a narcissist? A simple “I” is how levelheaded people refer to themselves.
  7. Being disrespectful of the Cavaliers. How cowardly that he didn’t call his team’s owner and give him two minutes of his time before he was dropped on live TV. That’s disrespectful, selfish, and speaks volumes about character.

We won’t even get into how cruel you were to your hometown fans, LeBron, because plenty has been written about this act of cruelty.

We learn who people really are by how they communicate in stressful situations.  We reveal our core, instead of our cleaned up versions.  At least Dan Gilbert gave us a window into his passionate heart. LeBron’s hometown, along with the world,  witnessed the athlete’s narcissist communication. In his attempt to build global dominance, LeBron blew an opportunity to communicate sincerely and from the heart.  His theatrics all came from the head.  And a very inflated one at that.

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What Every Communicator Can Learn From … Michael Jackson

Monday, February 1st, 2010 by admin

Did you read the headlines? “Jackson Kids Steal the Show!” the news articles proclaimed, calling the appearance of Michael Jackson’s two eldest children the most memorable moment of the 52nd annual Grammy Awards Show.

What does this have to do with communication skills, you ask? Everything. In a room filled with big egos, these two young people nailed the three things that you must do as a 21st century communicator: they got attention, got to the point, and got results – and so can you. These skills are crucial whether you’re presenting your ideas to big egos, big wallets, or big knuckleheads.

This post is not about Michael Jackson’s kids on stage.  Believe it or not, it’s about what you can learn from Michael’s approach to presentation skills that can transform and elevate your presentations forever. Turns out, Michael Jackson was not just a performer, he was the ultimate presenter. He was every bit as good or even better than the much-heralded Steve Jobs at presenting ideas that people respond to.

I was struck by what businesspeople can learn by watching the newly released video chronicling Michael’s stage preparations for his planned final shows in London, “This is It.” Here are 3 quick lessons:

1. The best presentations are built around your relationship with the audience

At the end of the film, you’ll see Michael and the crew gather in a large circle on stage. Director Kenny Ortega asks Michael to share a few words. Listen closely – what Michael says is the the stamp of a true presentation genius.  He tells the crew that a successful show is not based upon the dance moves, or the special effects, or even on him.  It’s a presenter’s relationship with the audience that matters most. Success is attained by the way you make people feel while they’re in your presence.  Lesson: don’t get caught up in worrying about yourself or your slides during a presentation. Zero in on your relationship with the audience.  Make their experience the king of the show and you’ll earn positive responses.

2. When you elevate others, everyone wins (including you)

Watch how Michael brings out the best in others. He stays gracious and kindhearted as he coaches the musicians, singers, and dancers during the rehearsals.  He’s 100% clear on what he wants from others, yet he doesn’t come across as all high and mighty or a taskmaster.  As a result, Michael Jackson draws the best possible performance out of everyone around him. Lesson: Stay relaxed, gracious, and humble at your presentations. Don’t let anxiety or pressure get the best of you. The most effective presenters are thoughtful, inspiring  leaders who play well in the sandbox.

3. Who’s the one communicator you should listen to most?

Why there were so many hours of rehearsal footage filmed prior to the concert run? Michael Jackson studied the “dailies.” He knew that he was in the connecting business, so he wanted to see how his “presentations” would come across to audiences from the stage, even before the seats were filled. Chances are you hate to see yourself on tape.  Heck, I avoided watching tapes of myself  during many years in the broadcast TV business.  But, ironically, as an executive coach I finally discovered the true power of videotaped assessments – they allow you to see the real you. As Michael Jackson clearly understood, there’s one communicator that you should listen to as much as possible – and that’s you. Study videotapes to hone your presentation’s content, your true voice, and your executive presence and you’ll earn a positive response from every audience.

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Did This CEO Hit the Sweet Spot?

Sunday, January 17th, 2010 by admin

Kraft Chairman and CEO Irene Rosenfeld is scrambling to persuade shareholders that her company’s $17 billion bid to buy British candymaker Cadbury is good for both companies. Her pursuit has drawn poor reactions from both Cadbury’s shareholders and Kraft’s biggest shareholder, Warren Buffett.

I’ll tie this career-defining move to the CEO’s habitual Tilt-A-Whirl head movements (see the photo on the right from a different event) in a moment. First, let’s get your head straight on the essentials.

Rosenfeld is seeking to transform the world’s No. 2 food company into an even bigger global juggernaut – but some feel she hasn’t hit the sweet spot with this takeover attempt.

After Cadbury complained that her price was too low, she told investors that she planned to issue new stock to help pay for the purchase. Buffett, America’s most influential investor, responded with a public smackdown; a press release warning her not to sell stock or increase her price lest it destroy value for Kraft’s shareholders. Don’t spend too much, he urged, as he tried to rein her in.  She has until January 19 to make her final offer. Kraft shareholders will vote February 1 on whether to issue more stock. Cadbury stockholders will vote on February 2.

Now, in an effort to convince shareholders and save the deal, the 56-year old CEO is trying to placate both groups. Kraft has posted a video on its corporate website of Rosenfeld being interviewed by a British woman.

Her message in this video is influential but unfortunately, a distracting body language habit trumps the brilliant woman’s point of view. It’s a case of the eyes trump the ears. People must buy into the messenger before they buy into the message. Rosenfeld comes across as a human Tilt-A-Whirl, constantly tilting her head from side-to-side as she speaks.  Left-right-left-right-left-right.  In addition, in an apparent attempt to appear warm and likable, the CEO plasters on a smile throughout the interview, even when it’s not warranted.

Here are two quick presentation/media coaching tips to help you prevent undermining your executive presence with nervous body signals:

  1. Avoid tilting your head. It looks coy and cute.  It’s not a powerful professional move unless you happen to work on the Las Vegas Strip. If that’s not your line of business, keep your head on straight.
  2. Plastered-on smiles don’t cut it. Yes, you’ve heard many times that you should smile, and in most cases you should. But here’s the real truth about smiling: If your smile doesn’t come across as genuine, it can backfire on you. Make sure your smile is heartfelt.

People monitor you for the signals you send. Project a balance of likability and credibility to hit the sweet spot.  Don’t let nervous energy undermine your credibility.  To learn more about how your energy level is tied to your ability to influence others, read chapter 12 of my book, Talk Less, Say More.

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Jon & Kate Plus….You.

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009 by admin

Nearly 10 million people tuned in for a record-shattering season premiere of Jon & Kate Plus 8 this week. I’ll tie this to you in the workplace in a moment — I promise there’s a business communication connection.  The tension was palpable as the bickering couple, caught up in the cheating chatter, came together for their sextuplets’ fifth birthday party.

We’re talking frozen tundra frosty. Ultra-chilly. These two were so cold, the cameras needed de-icing.

jon-kateJon and Kate scooched as far apart on the couch as possible, closed off to each other, sending undeniable signals that they’re miserable and their relationship is on the rocks.

Despite trying to play nice for the cameras, their body language revealed that they’re merely doing what they have to do to earn a paycheck.  “Kate and I are going through some stuff,” said a glum-looking Jon. You think?

That’s where YOU come in. Are you going through some stuff in the workplace?  Is there someone  who gets under your skin and, despite your best intentions to hide your true feelings,  your irritation or loathing is showing more than you want it to?

Your body talk sends messages that people decode.  They size you up in seconds and draw conclusions about whether you’re credible, likable, or trustworthy. Despite the words you choose, people are first influenced by “hearing” your body language.  Before they’ll believe your words, they must first buy into your body talk.

Here are a few body language tips from my upcoming Talk Less, Say More book to help you come across at your best:

  • Fight the urge to close yourself off. Your instinct is to move away from a person whom you secretly despise.  Fight it. It won’t be a secret if you point your body in the opposite direction.  Remind yourself to unlock your arms, look at them with as much warmth as you can muster, and conquer your desire to ice, ice baby.
  • Avoid Code Red.  Discover what specific situations or people trigger an elevated state of anxiety or anger and learn to manage your behavior during these situations.  You can’t control the other person’s actions, so focus on managing your own. Don’t damage your career by being the person who’s known for giving someone else the cold shoulder or for crumbling under pressure. Don’t just cope with the situation. Own it.
  • Keep it real. Gestures and movements are most effective when they’re a natural extension of the feelings you’re trying to express. But they will undercut your message it if they come across as forced, fake or harsh.  Match your movements to the intensity you want to project and they’ll work to your advantage.
  • Conquer your mannerisms. Unlike gestures that you do intentionally, mannerisms are the unconscious movements that you make, often in anxious situations – like touching your nose, twirling your hair or scratching your neck. Ask someone you trust to reveal your habitual mannerisms so you can be aware of them and control them when you’re dealing with difficult people.
  • Don’t stifle positive gestures. Some people mistakenly believe they talk with their hands too much.  That’s rare.  If your arm movements distract from your words, then yes, they can be too much.  But most gestures are heartfelt and congruent with your words so therefore, they help to improve your energy level. (Just don’t gesture with a one-finger salute, of course!)

We can’t love everyone we work with, so uncomfortable situations are bound to happen to you, either with co-workers or clients. Hopefully, there won’t be TV cameras recording your every move for ten million people to judge.  But in this age of Twitter, cell phones that videotape, and YouTube, you never know who’ll be tuned in next….

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Conquer Criticism: Tips to Overcome It

Tuesday, January 27th, 2009 by admin

fear-of-criticismWe’re living in a harsh, harsh world.  I’m sure you’ve noticed that you can now get a daily dose of cheap shots here on the Internet. Follow the comment section after most web entries and you’ll find boatloads of hyper-critical, snarky comments.  Turn on your TV and there it is again – the Simon Cowell effect – people openly judging and grading others harshly. Ouch.

As I’ve coached high-powered clients recently, I’ve been struck by a recurring, performance-draining concern that leaders share with me (and one I’ve faced, too) that craters confidence: fear of criticism. The fear that you won’t measure up to expectations and will be judged severely as a result.

Fear of criticism is like kryptonite to a leader.

It’s a powerful deterrent that drains your confidence and power. Sometimes your biggest critic is your own inner voice.  Sometimes it’s others’ ruthless opinions. Either way, it leads to one of three depleting communication styles:

  1. Holding back instead of contributing, in order to avoid having your ideas criticized
  2. Being overly-defensive when well-meaning people offer useful suggestions, or
  3. Playing it too safe by communicating a boring, vanilla version of your ideas instead of aiming for outstanding.

Most leaders tell me their fear of criticism pre-dates the Internet. Some trace it back to childhood, when they experienced excessive criticism  that stuck in their heads like a broken record. Others say they witnessed tongue-lashings in the workplace and fear receiving the same fate, which causes them to lack confidence and reduce risks.

As an executive communication coach, I’ve learned there’s no connection between competence and confidence.  Even the most capable leaders can be crippled by the secret fear of criticism. Here are a few tips to help you overcome it:

  • Forget perfection, think excellence. High performers often strive for flawless, which means aiming for the impossible.  Think excellence, instead, to get over that self-limiting hurdle.  Give yourself permission to be your best at this moment, not the best of all time.
  • Switch your focus from internal to external. You don’t want to hear this, but ego is involved.  Often, a fear of criticism reveals that you’re too concerned with what others think of you. Turn it around. Manage your thoughts to concentrate on meeting your receiver’s needs, not on how they may be sizing you up.
  • Don’t be an avoider. Criticism doesn’t have to actually occur to cause anxiety or injury.  Perhaps that critical voice in your head is carrying too much weight.  Learn to face your fears.  Starting today, create a positive inner daily dialogue to overrule and replace your hypercritical self-talk.
  • Keep the criticizer’s goal in mind. Some bosses, clients and others may offer criticism because they want to help you perform at the top of your game.  Their feedback may be intended solely to improve your performance, not to take a personal shot. Perhaps they’re sharing the wisdom of lessons learned.
  • Resist the temptation to become defensive. Do you jump in and cut off criticism with knee-jerk reactions? If so, you may escalate the situation.  Tough critics can grow more determined to zap you again next time.  And in these cases, there will be a next time. Stay open-minded.
  • Ask for clarification. One of the best aproaches to handle criticism is to listen carefully, let the person finish, and then ask for specific clarifications. That way, you hear their full point of view  and stand the best chance to correct what’s may need to be fixed.

Learning to conquer criticism gracefully is a sign of leadership and maturity. It communicates respect – both for yourself and the others who share their viewpoints.

Just don’t fall into the trap of doling out cruel criticisms youself.  Shallow criticism without direction is a useless power play.

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Are You a Communicator-in-Chief?

Sunday, January 18th, 2009 by admin

george-bush1Out with the old, in with the new.  As we say goodbye to George Bush and his colorful, sometimes mangled communications, (can you say misunderestimated?) we usher in a new era of oratory.

We’re shifting to a new Communicator-in-Chief. What do I mean by this? A Communicator-in-Chief is a leader whose messages are so pragmatic, on point, and invigorating that his words spark immediate actions.  His/her messages unite, inspire and challenge others to reach their collective highest performance.  Communicators-in-Chief make things happen. President Bush was at the top of his game when, with a bullhorn to his lips and a firefighter at his hip,  he stood atop the rubble in New York City after 9/11 and rallied our country. Barack Obama promises to be an exceptional Communicator-in-Chief, which I’ll get to in a moment.

First, let’s focus on you. Are you a Communicator-in-Chief? You are if your  job depends upon making things happen through others. There are three habits you must master to reach your highest performance:

  1. You must connect engagingly. It’s essential to engage others straight away in today’s distraction-driven, short attention span world. People tune out quickly today. You’ll attract and earn people’s attention  by frontloading your communications with what’s truly relevant and matters most to them.
  2. You must convey clearly. We’re living in an information-overload society. Tossing too many facts and figures around is like adding empty junk food calories to your diet. Junk words dilute your message and lead to confusion, not clarity. You must make a conscious choice to pare down your words and deliver shorter, more visually stimulating messages if you want people to retain the information you share.
  3. You must convince specifically. It’s not the talk that matters, it’s the action.  It’s critical that you be ultra-specific about the step you want people to take.  Now is not the time for assumptions or vagueness. What, precisely, do you want others to do? Make your viewpoint or request utterly actionable because that’s the key to making things happen without delay in our busy world.

Develop these three habits and you’ll set in motion a transformative process to ensure that people listen to you, understand you, and take action.  (These are the principles in my forthcoming book, Talk Less, Say More, which will be in bookstores this fall.)

barack-obamaIncoming President-Elect Barack Obama has so far been an extraordinary Communicator-in-Chief which, ironically, his detractors hold against him. His critics call him “Mr. Podium.” They argue that he merely talks a good game.  I’m not buying that.  While I agree that blowhards are not true leaders, from what I’ve seen, Obama’s  no blowhard.  His words are based on visions that are implemented to unite and inspire action. Isn’t that the opposite of empty rhetoric? Far from merely talking a good game, if you communicate your visions effectively, action is the endgame.

Top Communicators-in-Chief also choose interactive formats to help others feel invested and make their messages people-powered.  In 2009, YouTube is the new fireside chat. LinkedIn is the new press release. Bloggers are the new reporters.  Tweeters are the new cheerleaders. Barack Obama’s team wisely used interactive tools to unite and invite voters to the polls.  Even better,  his incoming administration is promising to remake the stodgy White House website to invite citizens’ feedback.

What about you? Are you using the right tools to communicate your messages in the 21st century … or are you stuck in one-way, old-school memo style?  Your messages can trigger immediate feedback in the Age of Input which, if you’re smart, will supplement and improve your decision-making.

My challenge to you is this: develop your skills to inspire, unite, and  move others to action.  Choose a communication habit to improve (connect, convey, or convince) and write down 3 things you’ll start doing immediately to master the habit.  Take these steps, and you’ll be on your way to becoming an exceptional Communicator-in-Chief.

Yes, you can.

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National Security and the Phone Book

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 by admin

As I watched President-Elect Obama’s news conference announcing his national security team nominees this morning, it reminded me of why I sat on a phone book behind the anchor desk.

Let me explain why I boosted my butt on a book first, and then I’ll link it to today’s news conference and your executive presence.

In 20 years of anchoring the news, I was paired with lots of male co-anchors.  Some of these guys were a foot taller than me.  Television news sets were designed and constructed by men, with the desk height created to comfortably seat and showcase an anchorman’s long torso.  If I, at 5 feet, 5 inches, planted my tush squarely on the chair seat beside the man, I would came off looking like his little sister. My head would reach his shoulders. So I decided to even the playing field.  I boosted my butt in order to have an equal “seat at the table” in the eyes of viewers.

I didn’t let my diminutive frame diminish my executive presence.

Now let me link this to today’s news conference.  Obama spoke first, so the podium microphone was set for his height. Hillary Clinton spoke next. She had enough experience to move the double mic down a few inches so it didn’t hide her face in the press photos.  Good move, Hillary.

Then we come to Susan Rice, the United Nations ambassador nominee.  When Rice, a brilliant Rhodes Scholar, stepped to the microphone as the final nominee, she sounded smart, but looked silly.  The microphone came all the way up to her eyeballs, totally obliterating her face. Now picture the scene in your mind: it was a double microphone. Two black spheres. Each microphone hid an eyeball. As her head bobbed up and down reading her script, the hardware danced from her eyeballs to her forehead. It was almost comical, making it hard to concentrate on a word she said. If I was her coach, I would’ve advised her to adjust the microphone in order to safeguard her dignity and allow people to concentrate on her intellect and her message, not be distracted by the silly scene.

My point: people’s perception of your presence can elevate your leadership, or diminish it.  Be conscious of how your physical presence is coming across and take action, whether that means moving microphones or sitting taller. The eyes trump the ears. Help people listen to your message.

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