Before we take another look at how Executive Presence has changed over a 10-year period. We should probably define what Gravitas is.
Gravitas is not a widely used word, and in my opinion, it’s because its meaning is a little vague and difficult to grasp—much like Executive Presence itself.
The Webster definition is, “Seriousness or sobriety in bearing or manner, dignity and importance.” The word originates from the Latin word, weight.
In other words, having the right Gravitas for a situation is going to vary based on the situation.
While Confidence and Decisiveness remain the top two traits used to describe Gravitas, the third has changed from Integrity moving down to 6th place and being replaced by Inclusiveness.
Vision and Respect for Others also moved up in ranking.
We’re seeing leaders that value all team members and build psychological safety among the team, benefiting from increased innovation and creativity within the team.
That’s a great thing.
My argument against the three widely accepted pillars of Executive Presence that we’ve discussed so far, Gravitas, Appearance, and Communication Traits, as published in 2022 HBR article, is that they will vary significantly based on the organizational culture, geographical location, and international boundaries.
Think about it, the appropriate Appearance, Communication style, and Gravitas for a leader will mean something different in a financial institution compared to a company selling motorcycles.
And that’s not even considering all the cultures around the US and the world.
To define a more globally accepted explanation of Executive Presence, we need pillars that remain the same across all cultures.
More to come on that topic in a future blog.
In the meantime…
How do you and your team define the right Executive Presence for the leaders on your team?
Looking to build you and your team’s executive presence? Contact Benchmark Training to meet with an Executive Coach.
