Understanding Executive Presence and How to Make It Work for You

The term "executive presence" might be new, but the behavior it describes is not. After all, truly exceptional leaders, those few with great executive presence, have always been with us. If you have had the good fortune of working with one, you undoubtedly remember the experience-the bearing, confidence, and command of the room, the clarity of speech and compelling vision, the thoughtfulness and accessibility that inspired you to be more motivated and self-confident. But where does executive presence come from and how do we cultivate it in ourselves? These are the questions I hear most often about executive presence-and Understanding Executive Presence is about the answers. It is a practical guide for understanding exactly what we're looking at when we make judgments about executive presence and how to turn these observations into meaningful development actions.

Not too many years ago, you could have completed your entire business career without hearing the term "executive presence." But today it is the term of choice for capturing the ways of speaking and acting characteristic of our most influential leaders. Until now, the rising popularity of—and need for—the executive presence phenomenon has not been accompanied by a common understanding of what, exactly, the term means. Understanding Executive Presence and How to Make It Work for You clears away the confusion by providing a practical definition of executive presence and the information and tools you need to make it work for you. Based on years of observing and coaching leaders—and learning what separates the best from the rest—Dr. Paul Aldo has created a practical guide for understanding exactly what we're looking at when we make judgments about executive presence and how to turn these observations into meaningful development actions. His Executive Presence workshop participants and coaching clients consistently report noticeable gains in their leadership presence and effectiveness from following the simple principles and advice contained in these pages.

Paul Aldo is President and CEO of Executive Presence Inc., an Atlanta-based leadership development and consulting firm. His interest in executive presence was piqued years ago when trying to understand how businesses decided who had real leadership potential and who did not. After more than 30 years of observation and research, Paul provides an empirically based and content rich perspective on this critically important topic. His Executive Presence workshops and coaching services consistently garner the highest ratings from his numerous Fortune 500 clients. Paul received his Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and has spent his career in academics, business, and consulting.