A Nova Guide To Executive Presence: Clarity

One of the biggest barriers facing women leaders today is a perceived lack of “executive presence.” This phrase is often used – and often misunderstood, even by the people using it! Intelligent, capable and talented women are being held back in their careers because they don’t meet an ambiguous standard for what an executive should look like. Over the course of our nine week executive presence series, Kathleen, Lisa and Priscilla will be sharing nine traits that every woman can develop to improve her executive presence and bring value to the organization.

One of the simplest ways of improving your executive presence is through clarity. What does clarity mean in the context of executive presence? Clarity is the ability to tell your story in an intuitively clear and compelling way.

Clarity of message is important in all communication – email, phone, face to face, in presentations, in meetings, and in developing your personal brand. Every time you communicate with someone, that person is building a picture of you in their head - you want that picture to be one of confidence, competence and leadership. If you’re not delivering your message in a consistent and engaging manner, they may develop an idea about you that isn’t what you want it to be! Practicing clear, direct communication allows everyone to see the value you offer, and makes sure they want to hear from you again.

There are three key steps to delivering your message in a precise, easily understood way.

Know what you want to say.

Providing content with intention will bring a focus to your message in any interaction. Take the time to determine the point of your communication. Outline your thoughts on paper or in your head. Know what you want to say before you say anything at all.

Know your audience.

Tailoring your message to your audience will allow you to communicate in a captivating manner.  Knowing what value you are offering in your message to a specific set of people gives you the opportunity to make your point simple and transparent.

Listen to the response.

Listening is the key to communication that is often forgotten.  A good listener is not thinking about their reply when someone else is speaking. Really listening means stopping, truly hearing the point of what the other person is communicating, thinking about your response, and proceeding slowly before speaking next. If you’re truly engaged in listening to your audience, then your messages will be lucid and precise in response.  

Clarity of message gives your communication a distinct edge over others. Listeners know exactly where you stand and what your true message really is. Practicing and perfecting your communication allows you to develop your story in the minds of others – instead of letting them make it up as you go along. A clear, consistent message is a declaration of who you are and projects the confidence and presence of a leader.