4 Steps to Build Your Executive Presence
Updated: Dec 14, 2020
When you hear the phrase, “executive presence” what comes to mind? Do you believe this is something you already possess? No matter if you’re looking to strengthen your skills, develop new ones or brush up on your existing executive toolkit – we’re here to help.
Establish a solid professional network
There’s a saying I’m sure we’ve all heard at some point within our careers, “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Creating genuine connections with coworkers, peers and other professionals in varying industries not only expands your network – it’s a gateway to a number of opportunities. If you’re unsure of how to start building, begin with your current employer. Maintain a good rapport with peers that you may work with directly or leverage Employee Resource Groups. Participating in these collaborative groups create new ways of knowledge transfer while learning more about how other areas operate. This is one of the best ways to get an inside scoop into other departments that can assist you when it’s time to seek other internal job opportunities. To kick it up a notch, participate in professional groups that are within your local city. This not only broadens your scope; it allows you to create cross-company relationships – resulting in more exposure.
Revitalize your resume
I know most people only think about updating their resume when it’s time to transition, but this causes unnecessary overwhelm and stress. Anytime a new skill is acquired, an objective is accomplished or a metric is completed you should make it a priority to update your resume in real-time. To keep this simple have a running list of job responsibilities and tasks on hand so you have something to reference when making updates. Don’t neglect your cover letter in this process! When applying for positions, be sure to incorporate some keywords from the job requisitions to further entice recruiters. As always, double-check for misspellings and grammatical issues. It never hurts to have an extra set of eyes; have a friend or family member take a look to make sure it’s easy to follow.
Update your LinkedIn profile
Think of your LinkedIn profile as an appetizer and your interview serves as dinner. You want to be sure that your information remains up to date so that recruiters, peers and the like are able to see your career matriculation. Highlighting your key skills and competencies in a summarized, concise view that’s digestible and easy for others to notice makes your profile engaging to your audience.
Commit to lifelong learning
We live in a world where the only constant is change, so it’s always best to remain open-minded and willing to learn in all forms. YouTube, LinkedIn, podcasts, training, certifications and online courses are just a few options that are available to expand your learning palette. While this doesn’t have to happen in one day, ingesting a little information each day allows you to stay current on your industry’s changes.
Still don’t feel 100% confident about your executive presence? Schedule a consultation with us and we will be more than happy to make sure you’re putting your best foot (and professional profile) forward!