Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett Flashcards
(179 cards)
Reputational glitches are much more serious—and immensely difficult to recover from. 163
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
The wrong message and the wrong messenger can destroy careers whatever the substantive reality. 171
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
combination of confidence, poise, and authenticity that convinces the rest of us we’re in the presence of someone who’s the real deal. 182
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
people shown silent videos of pianists performing in international competitions picked out the winners more often than those who could also hear the sound track.2 226
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
the best predictor of success on the competition circuit was whether a pianist could communicate passion through body language and facial expression. 228
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
EP rests on three pillars: How you act (gravitas) How you speak (communication) How you look (appearance) 241
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
Gravitas is the core characteristic. Some 67 percent of the 268 senior executives we surveyed said that gravitas is what really matters. Signaling that “you know your stuff cold,” that you can go “six questions deep” in your domains of knowledge, is more salient than either communication (which got 28 percent of the senior executive vote) or appearance (which got a mere 5 percent). 248
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
eye contact matters enormously. 265
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
appearance (as we saw in the musical competition) is a critical first filter. 271
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
on the appearance front isn’t a function of what you were born with; rather, it’s a function of what you do with what you’ve got. 280
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
“You have to be there in bad times as well as good, to show you lead from the heart as well as from the head,” 382
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
CTI research reveals gravitas to consist of six key behaviors and traits. 397
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
we’re drawn to leaders who keep their promises, keep their cool, and show compassion as well as courage in making the truly hard choices? 410
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
GRACE UNDER FIRE 415
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
Most of us are like teabags, to borrow from Eleanor Roosevelt’s shrewd words: We don’t know how strong we are until we’re in hot water. 427
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
So while avoiding catastrophe may demonstrate competence, it is handling catastrophe that confers gravitas. 437
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
when you demonstrate that your confidence cannot be shaken, you inspire confidence in others. At worst, you’ll win their forgiveness and forbearance. Very possibly, you’ll win their trust and loyalty. 445
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
In a crisis, you can lean into the wind, acknowledge your shortcomings, and rise above them; or you can take cover. 457
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
SHOWING TEETH 471
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
Making difficult decisions is what we look to leaders to do. It is not so much about rendering the right decision, but about rendering a decision at a time when no one else dares, that confers gravitas, because it telegraphs that you have the courage, as well as the confidence, to impose a direction and take responsibility for it. 482
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
CTI research finds that 70 percent of leaders consider decisiveness to be a component of EP for both men and women, second only to confidence in a crisis, making it a core aspect of gravitas. 493
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
Being able to make decisions isn’t so much the issue as needing to appear decisive in public—the 495
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
the clinic’s Wall Street clientele describe them, more than justify the risks. Testosterone makes them feel bolder, louder, and more assertive, they say; as a result, they’re more comfortable showing teeth and taking risks. “It’s important to project an aura of invincibility,” one trader confided to me. 509
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett
Real leaders don’t issue edicts just to look and sound like they’re in charge. Real leaders listen, gather critical information, weigh the options carefully, look for a timely opening (typically when everyone else is writhing in indecision), and then demand action. 526
Executive Presence by Sylvia Ann Hewlett