Last month was a flurry of events and conferences where I found myself in the midst of people I had never met. What fun to stand back and observe first hand some people who exuded executive presence from the minute they entered the room. What a dilemma to watch others struggle throughout the evening, glancing at their watch as if it was going to ring when their time was up and they could leave.Showing up with executive pr...

Who has a presence you admire? What words would you use to describe that person? Is it how they communicate, how they give engaging presentations, or how they hold meaningful conversations? They may bring a spark the moment they enter the room. They may have a profound self-awareness, naturally knowing how to take control in most situations, being rarely intimidated. Typically they are well dressed and groomed, exhibiting a...

Here are quick quips (try and say THAT five times in a row) that I share during each Professional Presence program. They resonate as simple, short messages that are memorable and impactful.1 – When in doubt – don’t.There are times when you can’t pick up my books or anyone else’s to get a specific answer. At those times, just stop and consider – “if I’m doubting whether to say something or not…maybe it’s best not to!”2 – Do...

Bill (name is changed) held his semi-annual leadership conference last month, hosting the event for several hundred people in his division. I watched him show his gratitude in several ways. At dinner he gave an eloquent toast recognizing his team for their hard work. He mentioned being grateful to lead the team and be a part of an organization that believes growth of people is reflected in growth of the business. He talked...

“There’s a difference between interest and commitment. When you’re interested in doing something, you do it only when it’s convenient. When you’re committed to something, you accept no excuses; only results.” ~Kenneth BlanchardIf you had breakfast this morning, the chicken participated but the pig was committed! Here’s a client’s example of commitment to demonstrating and using his personal brand.I recently worked with a s...

Vulnerability is synonymous with weakness, helplessness, and being defenseless—things that you, as a leader, do not want to be known for. Vulnerability, which is getting a lot of buzz around leadership qualities and traits discussions, is also synonymous with openness and exposure, which aren’t necessarily negative when it comes to leading a team. In a recent article in INC. magazine, the author mentions what researcher Bre...

In a recent blog post, I mentioned how a positive second impression develops a lasting business relationship.When you’re networking, your brand is “on stage.” You’re making connections, focusing on your presence, and collecting business cards. You’re doing great! Now be sure you have a strategy to keep it going. Once you’ve made sure to “Do it Right”— from your appearance, to your behaviors and business etiquette—how will...

We hear it all the time. “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.”That good ol’ first impression, in which people “sum you up” in a matter of seconds. Some say this isn’t fair but research shows that we do make judgments about others in the first few seconds of meeting them. In a short amount of time, there can be assumptions made about a person’s income, where they live, where they work, their person...

Remember that time when you were at a business meeting and it took an awkward turn? There was congenial conversation—then all of a sudden you or someone else said something unprofessional that killed the flow of the discussion. The conversation went from congenial to awkward. The point is, how we communicate is a reflection of our personal brand and executive presence.Let’s look at some “brand busters” that can rot an other...

When you’re networking, your brand is “on stage.” You’re making connections, focusing on your brand presence, and collecting business cards. You’re doing great! Now be sure you have a strategy to keep it going. Once you’ve made sure to “Do it Right”— from your appearance, to your behaviors, and business etiquette—how will you use networking to continue the business relationships? If you don’t have a strategy, you could “dro...