Decoding the X Factor in Wielding Executive Presence

Have you ever heard someone say “I trust him/her right away” or “I want to hire him/her although the cost is high” Even from your own personal experience, have you ever been drawn to a person within just few minutes of them speaking or from the minute that they walk into the room? We may not be able to put our finger to what it is that attracts us to them, and may loosely term these “intangible qualities” as a gut feeling or a first impression. To be more exact these “intangible qualities” are what actually makes up one’s executive presence. Executive Presence is one of the important elements in getting people to stop and take note of you, to give you the chance or the platform you need to showcase your abilities and talent. Executive Presence has become the hottest topic in leadership and talent development nowadays. According to a study done by Center for Talent Innovation in New York, the findings indicated that amongst the factors considered for promotions, Executive Presence accounted for about 26% (Goudreau, 2012). But what makes up Executive Presence? The Bates Model clarifies Executive Presence as a threedimensional model: Character, Substance and Style.