When CEOs walk into a meeting or presentation, they need to make a strong impression, but one that doesn't put people off. A significant part of the way an executive presents him or herself lies in putting the best foot forward.
The leaders who really make lasting impressions do so by thinking about important elements of presentation that usually go unnoticed. When the executive recruitment process begins, companies should think about the signs that a candidate knows how to conduct himself and create a memorable recognizable style.
Writing for the Harvard Business Review, Nick Morgan says that the most important factors that play into this are the "unconscious cues" that CEOs give off. These include things like posture and the way that executives position themselves physically, as well as who they talk to and how they behave in conversation.
Unconscious cues
Proper presentation also extends to the way executives control a situation. Of course, it also helps to have a firm grasp on what they're saying and what they want to accomplish. But without the right charisma, the message will be lost.
Morgan says that getting in touch with how they feel and why in a certain setting is the key to creating a captivating business presence.
"Take inventory of how you habitually position yourself in front of the world and repair if necessary," he writes. "Then, focus on a key emotion for any important meeting. And third, the place where most leaders mistakenly start, be prepared with something interesting and relevant to say."
Another point he makes is that while all people naturally have charisma, only some know how to control it. Those who do, however, use it masterfully to make their point and make it all look effortless.
"Conducting" the crowd
A post in First Things gives us the example of Jack Ma, the so-called "Steve Jobs of China" who is the CEO and head of online retail company Alibaba Group. The article quotes Alibaba employee Hao Wu, who attended a 2007 meeting where he saw Ma give an especially powerful presentation emphasizing the dominance of the company's culture.
One of the key things Wu comments on is how Ma managed to control the room by shifting tones throughout the presentation and, in Wu's words, compelled the audience "like a master conductor." Ma reportedly didn't rely on notes or other props to make his point, making his delivery seem natural.
While Wu disagreed with some of the things Ma had to say at this meeting, he respected that he was in control the whole time and used his charisma to convey his message successfully. He even compares Ma's style to the oratory power of Mao Zedong.
Strong vs. erratic
On the other hand, having too strong a personality is a possible liability for a CEO. Losing his temper in the middle of a meeting, making an off-color comment or venting rage while the public is watching are all CEO behaviors that get attention, but not the good kind.
Using Morgan's original checklist, these types of outbursts seem like examples of a lack of control. A more composed executive would be able to avoid negative situations like these.
Always at the ready
The takeaway for businesses is to find a CEO who always thinks about how to look and act the best. An executive recruiter helps to target exactly those qualities a business needs the most.
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