Follow These Tips to Increase Your Boardroom Presence
Est. Reading Time: 4 Minutes
My last article addressed the question ‘How Do I Enhance My Marketability?’ by listing 6 personal tenets critical to becoming a ‘Strategic Partner’ in the business world. These tenets are:
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Motivational Theory depicts the top level of the ‘Needs Pyramid’ as Self-Actualization. (See Simply Psychology’s ‘ Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs,’ by Saul A. McLeod (2018, May 21).) In a business setting, Self-Actualization would translate to ‘Becoming a Strategic Partner.’
These tenets are unwavering in how they impact the formation of a strategic partner. As a stand-alone list, they mean little. I intend to dissect each of the 8 tenets to provide a clearer understanding of the significant role each plays. Specifically, I will focus on the Personal Credibility tenet and its second quality: Boardroom Presence.
So, what constitutes the Personal Credibility tenet? Quite simply, they are the 8 Personal Qualities that define you as a person. They determine how others see you. In other words, their perception of you. In the early stages of building credibility, PERCEPTION IS REALITY.
These 8 Personal Qualities other people use to determine your effectiveness as a person, a professional, and, eventually, as a leader are:
“Perception Becomes Reality in the Eyes of Those Forming & Holding that Image.”
Boardroom Presence is all about how you appear to others in various settings. Keep in mind, in professional settings, academic or business, people constantly judge you. They cannot help it. If they have Sensory Capability they will be making critical assessments of you…and of others.
Each person has a ‘Reference Point’ in their mind about what is POSITIVE and what is NOT POSITIVE. They cannot help it; it just happens. In short, perception becomes a reality. Hence, this is why it’s so important to ensure you appear and behave in a manner that strengthens your credibility. Poor first impressions often doom very talented people.
Right or wrong, appearance is normally the very first thing that someone will notice about you. How do you dress? Did you shave? What is your introduction manner and style: your handshake, smile, voice (volume and accent), eye contact, name recall? How do you carry yourself: upright and attentive with a sense of military/confidence bearing?
Furthermore, it’s important to dress to fit your audience; you need to appeal to the critical audience. These people could have an impact on if you receive a job offer, have your sales proposal accepted, or are promoted. Thus, it is important to look like the people who are running the organization. Remember, it’s rare to be discounted for ‘over-dressing.’ In contrast, if you appear in casual or business casual when the dress code is business professional, you can doom the effort.
When you attend a recruiting event, a business meeting, or a sales presentation, make certain you are fully prepared. Design an agenda for yourself. Try to anticipate what others might ask of you and research to find the answers. LISTEN carefully to what others are saying. Stay engaged. Never be reticent. Always be prepared to fully respond to any questions, ideas, or thoughts.
Always remember your manners. For example, whenever anyone enters a space you are in, STAND UP. This shows respect and creates a setting where you are on equal footing with everyone else. Furthermore, always address others formally (Sir, Ma’am, Doctor, Professor, Mr., Ms.…whatever it might be) after you have been introduced until they tell you differently. Do not get too casual or familiar with others until you’ve established a positive relationship.
As you operate within the business world, you will often connect with key individuals over breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Opportunities can be lost over a social meal. Proper dining etiquette is a lost art but you can make it through with these quick tips:
To increase your boardroom presence, you need to look like the one in charge. To determine if this is happening, ask yourself the following questions:
“I had to adapt my presence and develop it in a way that really exuded leadership.”
-Muriel Maignan Wilkins, Author of Own the Room
Each forthcoming article will highlight a specific tenet of ‘Becoming a Strategic Partner.’ Keep reading to fully reap the benefits of the tenets.
‘Outside resources’ specific to supporting each tenet will accompany these articles. Review these ‘outside resources’ for a deeper understanding of the particular tenet, and, as you glean information from these articles and outside resources, begin to put their lessons into play.
Attempt to perfect each of the tenets of a ‘Strategic Partner.’ A great way to do this is by weaving the ‘Behaviors’ and ‘Core Competencies’ into your Performance Goals at work.
Ask for feedback specific to improving your boardroom presence. This can come from your partner, co-workers, or manager.
CEO & Personal Advisor, Bagley Consulting
With more than 35 years of experience leading HR & Recruiting, Career Development, and Leadership Coaching efforts for business professionals throughout the United States, Bill is the perfect resource for all things “Career.” For 20 years, he served as Regional HR & Recruiting Leader for Deloitte, retiring as a Firm Director. During his tenure, Deloitte was named, six times, to Fortune magazine’s list of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in America.
Full Bio | LinkedIn
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