Executive Presence: Are you coachable, approachable and sociable?

What is your executive presence? Is it what you want? Can it be improved? Do you want it to be improved? When I’m engaged in an initial executive coaching session with an executive leader, I start with three questions.

First Three Questions:

1. Are you coachable?
2. Are you approachable?
3. Are you sociable?

Coachable

If your thought process ever includes, “We’ve always done it this way,” then you are far from coachable. You must possess a continual learning mindset and be open-minded to new possibilities to be coachable. This is a key criteria of your executive presence. Your executive presence will improve, your skills and knowledge will flourish, and your ability to develop your leadership skills will take you to the next level in your career. Your ability to perform at your peak as an executive leader depends on your ability to accept new ideas, be open to learn, and implement necessary changes to drive your individual and organizational performance to the next level.

Approachable

Are employees afraid you? Do you intimidate others? Do you exert your power only for personal gain? If so, you are not approachable. As I’m not of fan of the open door policy, I am still a huge believer that communication is key. More specifically, consistent and timely communication. People need to see you as approachable in order to share their insights, ideas, knowledge, and issues that are pertinent to you, your role, and the organization as a whole. If you are not approachable , communication suffers. Take down your intensity a notch, become a proactive listener, and engage people at work with conversation, delegation, and project inclusion.

Sociable

Whether you are an extrovert or an introvert, being social is a key to your executive presence. Creating connections and building rapport with your leaders, peers, subordinates, investors, stakeholders, and clients will benefit you in many ways. Do you engage with others at work? Are you able to have fun in a social setting? Do you plan or attend company events and get to know your employees outside of work? Are you able to connect with peers and subordinates easily? Learning the PMA Business Relationship Model can help. Also, being present at company events and one-on-one conversations (and avoiding distractions) will build on your executive presence.

To enhance your executive presence, you must become coachable, approachable, and sociable.

Mark Krajnik, LSSGB, CPC, (The Culture Coach) is the CEO at Performance Mindset Associates (PMA). Mark is a tenured Talent Strategist, Executive Coach, and experienced people leader, and offers fractional chief people officer services. He is an Executive Talent Leader in recruitment operations, executive search, talent acquisition, L&D, culture coaching, human capital consulting, change management, and talent management. He is very passionate about people, building high-performance teams, creating retention-focused cultures, and career development. He brings a focus on performance, execution, creative problem solving, and goal achievement. Please go to performancemindset.co for more information or send an email to info@performancemindset.co.