Executive Presence

Let’s cut to the chase: Executive presence isn’t about how you sound. It’s about how you listen. Not just to others.

I’ll never forget the day a nonprofit leader in D.C. smiled at me and my colleague, patted us on the shoulders, and said, “Best to you, ladies”…like we were little girls playing at leadership. That moment lit a fire in me.

Last week, I led a workshop series called UNIGNORABLE. A deliberately designed space, a *taste* of the Executive Presence Accelerator, to show what happens when brilliant women stop shrinking, stop overfunctioning, and start leading from their actual authority.

Let’s cut the crap. You’ve been told (directly or indirectly) that if you want to lead at the next level, you need to “work on your executive presence.”

Ever notice how, when things get rocky—politically, economically, or even just in your company’s leadership—gender bias seems to get worse? Microaggressions increasing? Fewer promotions? Getting talked over or ignored? There’s a reason for that.

As a senior woman leader in STEM, you likely face unique challenges that test your confidence daily. You might be over-prepared for meetings or reluctant to share your ideas.

Look here, Louisa, I’m going to cut right to the chase on this one because we’ve spent the last few posts reviewing the legacy leadership framework to build up to this moment right here…The moment where I bring it all together to talk legacy leadership.

Howdy, partner. Did you hear tell about the mysterious stranger people been seein’ about town? They’re saying they move about the shadows, always keepin’ themselves hidden. I’m not about to go believin’ everything I hear, but I’d like to know who it is and why they ain’t showin’ themselves. Though I’ve got a pretty good idea…

Dust yourself off and grab those big scissors over there. You’re about to be the guest of honor at a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Today, I’m back to kick up the dust on leadership and walk you through one aspect of my new Legacy Leader Framework (as we started to discuss in the last post)–authentic leadership. But before we go jumping on that horse and riding toward the new frontier of authentic, inspiring, and impactful leadership, I want to make sure you’re picking up what I’m laying down, partner.

Picture this through the lens of leadership. Just try. You sit in a dark living room, the only lights coming from your TV. The black and white picture cascades shadows around the room. You rifle around in a bowl for another fistful of popcorn but miss your mouth because you can’t take your eyes off the screen.

My latest album, The Transfer of Trust is about to drop and I want you all to know before I take the show on the road (Eras style…I might even go blond). Every hit single I’ve included is meant to inspire empowering women leaders to empower new leaders.

You’re more than your corner office, your role, your title. I want you to consider that for a moment. When was the last time you really took the time to think about who you are outside of your professional identity and accomplishments?

As we gear up for another year, let's talk about something near and dear to my heart and absolutely critical to the future of the world (yes, the WHOLE world)–the incredible power and unstoppable rise of female leadership in male-dominated industries. And let’s just pause for a moment to acknowledge and celebrate that you're not just part of this movement; you're at its forefront!

Repeat after me: putting myself first is key. Now, go write it on a Post-it note and stick it on your bathroom mirror, refrigerator, bedroom closet, and car dashboard. And every time you see it, say it out loud. No, really. Keep telling yourself how important you are until you BELIEVE IT.

Dear, Brilliant, Powerful, and Achieved One, You belong exactly where you are. In the role you’ve worked so hard for. Around the table with the other executives and C-level leaders. I know it may not feel like that a lot of the time. But whatever garbage you’re listening to inside your head, it’s just that. Garbage. Rotten bologna. Bullshit, honestly. It’s not real.

How often does someone get promoted to a leadership (or C-level) position because they’ve produced amazing results in their technical role but do not have a clue how to actually lead?

Let’s get you up to speed in case you’ve not been following along. Situational leadership is critical to your team’s success. (Full stop.) There are four types of situational leaders: visionary, coaching, delegating, and directive. Meow, the name of the game in this blog post is delegating leadership, which is likened to herding cats.

You can't be everything to everyone—after all, you aren't a Swiss Army Knife. And if you were, well, that would be weird.

The author humbly advises you to read the following in your best Morgan Freeman voice. Behold the industrious prairie dog; humble, head bowed, quiet, perfectly content to stay out of sight.