Build your executive presence: Appearance

Don't worry, it's not what you think...

Welcome back! How are you feeling as we race towards the festive break? I’m feeling…

Tired. (I’m 48, I’m always tired!)

A bit snuffly this week, thanks to my darling niece and nephew sharing their germs with me at the weekend.

But also…

Excited about what 2025 will hold. I always get fired up at this time of year as I start to reflect on the past 12 months and make plans for the next.

If you have time in the coming weeks, try and take a little time out for some reflection.

I’ll share some coaching prompts to help you do that next week.

And if you are feeling fatigued, that’s ok. It’s been a year hasn’t it? Reinforce your boundaries and look after yourself.

Ok, on to this week’s newsletter. We are finishing up the series on Executive Presence (EP). If you missed them, go back to part 1, part 2 and part 3 here (they are paid for newsletters, as there’s a LOT in them and if you study them all, you’ll have a very valuable playbook for building your leadership impact and your career next year.)

Today, we’re talking about the final and most controversial component of Executive Presence: Appearance.

But don’t worry, I’m not going to tell you to wear a suit. In a modern leadership context, it’s about so much more than polished shoes and power suits. And that’s a very good thing as we continue to dismantle the limiting and stereotypical ideas of “traditional leadership”.

Today, appearance isn’t about dressing the part; it’s about aligning your outward presentation with your authentic leadership style. It’s about how you show up - physically, emotionally, and in terms of your energy - and what message that sends to the people you lead. In fact, although I use the word “appearance” here as a shorthand (and because it’s what is often used when talking about Executive Presence), I’m not comfortable with it. I prefer how you “show up”. How about you?

We’ll explore how “appearance” contributes to executive presence in today’s world, offer coaching exercises to reflect on your current approach, and share practical tips to refine your presentation without losing your authenticity.