How to build executive presence at work

HAVE you ever walked into a room and felt completely invisible? While this is a common experience in the workplace for many professionals, there always seems to be that one person who appears to effortlessly command attention the moment they speak.

- PRESTON CHEN

You know the type — when they talk, people lean in. When they ask questions, the room goes quiet. They have what I call “aura”. The good news is that this is not something you're born with; it’s a skill attained from intentional effort. After helping hundreds of professionals develop executive presence, I can tell you that aura is a practised skill.

Internal driver

There’s only one internal factor that determines your aura: confidence. However, the misconception is that confidence comes from standing tall or sitting up straight. Those help; but they won't work if you're forcing it.

Real confidence is the internal belief that everything will be good. No matter what happens or what might go wrong, you know you will be able to handle it.

Here are three ways to internalise that confidence:

Get clear on communication

Never walk into any meeting cold. Try using what I call the “know-feel-do” exercise.