EP16: Five Ways to Build Authentic Executive Presence

For years, executive presence meant fitting a specific mold, but that’s no longer the case. In this episode, Karin Reed shares how authenticity in communication can bolster your executive presence.

 

Karin outlines five key strategies for integrating authentic communication into leadership to enhance executive presence. First, she emphasizes being a whole person, not just a job title, sharing anecdotes that provide a window into one’s personal life which can make leaders more relatable. Second, she advises leaders to “listen to learn” rather than “talk to tell,” quoting Wilfred Bion on the purest form of listening without preconceived notions or agendas. The third strategy is to speak in plain, simple language to ensure clear communication and comprehension, rather than trying to impress with an extensive vocabulary. Fourth, Karin encourages leaders to give themselves grace for verbal missteps, sharing humorous personal experiences to illustrate that everyone makes mistakes when they speak. Lastly, she emphasizes the importance of owning one’s expertise while being humble enough to admit when they don't know something, fostering a culture of psychological safety within the team.

 

Karin leaves listeners with a powerful takeaway: authentic leadership is more valued today than ever before. By speaking from the heart and prioritizing genuine connections, leaders can enhance their executive presence and inspire their teams more effectively.

 

Quotes

• “Authenticity is your key to resonating with your audience and that’s what’s going to make you an effective leader.” (02:18 | Karin Reed)
• “Helping people to understand why you do what you do is a great opportunity for you to help them to understand the decisions that you make, the motivation that you have for your goals that you have for the team and frankly for themselves as well. There’s also an element of being sure that you are seen as a full person that allows you to connect better with others.” (05:26 | Karin Reed) 
• “One of my favorite quotes is by Wilfred Bion. And he said, ‘The purest form of listening is to listen without memory, or desire.’ What this means is that you are listening without an agenda or any preconceived notions or really any sort of goal for what’s going to happen at the end. Instead, you are just listening to hear what they have to say and taking in the information as it comes to you. If you allow yourself to engage in that pure form of listening… you're going to learn more, but also those you are conversing with will feel seen, and they will feel heard.” (07:19 | Karin Reed) 
• “The great leaders that I have worked with understand that communication should not be a one-way street, it should be a two-way street with dialogue. And that means spending even more time listening than talking to people and pushing forth what you want to say.” (08:11 | Karin Reed) 

 

Links

Connect with Karin Reed:

Website: www.speakerdynamics.com

Speaker Dynamics University: https://university.speakerdynamics.com/

Speaker Dynamics on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakerdynamics/

Karin Reed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-reed/

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