By Jennifer B. Kahnweiler, Ph.D. Holding a mirror up to ourselves ain’t always easy. In this piece by Joann Lublin of the WSJ called How To Look and Act Like A Leader we learn about the various ways managers are addressing the issue of how they look and sound.
I agree that it is often the non-verbals that kill the deal. Judging by the WSJ comments, not everyone agrees. Some write that this kind of training unfairly focuses on women. Others think that it is a topic not even worth writing about. And a few link it to credibilty. I agree with the last camp. How we dress, how we sound and how we use our body
do form an impression.
The often quoted stats are that 73% of our impact concerns our vocal and non-verbal presence. While these numbers have been questioned, I do think it is generally true. Leaders can command a room or they can speak and have their message land with a thud. It can be their tight shirt, lack of eye contact or chair slouching. Either way, it is typically not the content but how they present themselves when delivering it. Introverted and extroverted leaders alike can work at coming across in a more confident manner.
So how do you get started on enhancing your presence?