Non-Slick Executive Presence

Read all of my Seattle Times columns.

“I don’t have executive presence,” a beloved coaching client told me. “I’m not slick.”

This client, with 20 years’ experience in his highly technical field, was preparing for a round of interviews for an internal promotion. If he lands it, he will join his company’s executive ranks.

“Tell me about your leadership style,” I suggested.

He paused. “I try to lead by example,” he said.

“How do you know?” I asked.

“Maybe this isn’t a big story, but recently one of my junior staff was working very hard, and needing to work into the evening,” he told me. “I was exhausted, but I stayed. I wasn’t going to clock out while my direct report worked into the night.”

I got teary listening to this matter-of-fact man describe his love and care for his employees…

(Read the rest of the story at The Seattle Times.)